9:04 AM, my next film, to shoot in October!

Heath McKnight · August 20th, 2006, 03:38 PM

You're good to go!

hwm

Gabriel Yeager · August 20th, 2006, 03:44 PM

Cool! Thanks a lot for helping me!

~Gabriel~

Heath McKnight · August 27th, 2006, 07:49 AM

My former lead actor had to drop out due to several reasons, including a play he joined as the lead. I had some back-up actors in mind and was able to meet with my main choice and am very, very happy with the new actor, Mike Leavitt. Everything happens for a reason, that's for sure!

I now recommend having a back-up actor, not really an understudy, just someone you have in mind. That way, when something happens, you can have them come in and take over.

heath

Heath McKnight · September 16th, 2006, 09:03 AM

Less than 3 weeks and I've re-cast 3 actors (long story, will tell it later), and am about to wrap up casting with other actors (small parts). I have my boom op and need to hire my grip. I am hoping to get some more money so I can hire an AD/Scripty/Art Director (a friend who will do all of that for me).

heath

Heath McKnight · September 28th, 2006, 10:27 PM

One week until production begins (10/6/06) and I blog almost daily here:

www.904am.com

I've been doing that since December 2000 (but that's after a screw-up that deleted journals/blogs dating back to March 2000), so you can tell this has been a long-in-development project.

I'm finalizing the camera (HVR-Z1u; couldn't get the V1u) and we're picking up the lights, grip and electric next Thursday. I brought aboard a production coordinator, since I can't do everything alone. She'll be helping out with all kinds of stuff, and doing make-up, too. Not bad!

Rehearsals are going well, and this is more than I've done for any movie. I used to like things raw, emotional, only 2 takes maximum. But we're getting the story, rhythms, and more down, and it's cool and working well. We work on the scenes beat-by-beat, moment-by-moment, then the actors and actresses play it out.

We're blocking next week, in costume, but not at our locations. Many of the actresses and actors are coming from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale (also New York City and Conneticut), so it's tough to get up to West Palm Beach (50-80 miles north of Ft. L and Miami).

Crew flies in Wednesday (Jon Fordham is the DP, Boris Cifuentes is the gaffer), the rest of the crew is local.

So, what else can I say? Oh yeah, I bought 50 Sony minidv tapes, just in case we need them all. I have a feeling I'll be selling some back to friends and my boss, grin.

I'll do my best to blog here, but the craziness is underway. We're starting to buy food/water this weekend (non-perishables) and I'm finalizing costumes, locations/set decoration, the schedule (always in flux), etc. Um, oh yeah, I bought a 300 gb firewire drive to cut on and I think that should be good. Though I may need another for the uncompressed HD final file I'll be making for 24p conversion, output, etc. (Thanks to Graeme Nattress who came up with it.)

heath

Mike Teutsch · September 28th, 2006, 10:58 PM

Congratulations Heath and best of luck! Sending you an email.

Mike

Heath McKnight · September 28th, 2006, 11:07 PM

Thanks for the email, I'll reply shortly!

heath

Curtis Kessinger · October 2nd, 2006, 01:04 PM

Congrats Heath,
Your story is a great lesson for every filmmaker out there who wants to make their film, but can't seem to put it all together. It takes time and effort and a non-stop attitude. You have stuck to it for such a long time now on this film. Keep moving forward and let the shooting begin! Looking forward to reading more about your production.

Ben Gurvich · October 2nd, 2006, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heath McKnight

Oh yeah, I bought 50 Sony minidv tapes, just in case we need them all. I have a feeling I'll be selling some back to friends and my boss, grin.
heath

DV or HDV tapes?

Heath McKnight · October 2nd, 2006, 06:08 PM

DV--the Sony Digital Master are out of my budget, but are great tapes. If I had $500, I would've gone with that. Sony minidv tapes are just fine.

heath

Heath McKnight · October 2nd, 2006, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curtis Kessinger

Congrats Heath,
Your story is a great lesson for every filmmaker out there who wants to make their film, but can't seem to put it all together. It takes time and effort and a non-stop attitude. You have stuck to it for such a long time now on this film. Keep moving forward and let the shooting begin! Looking forward to reading more about your production.

Thanks a lot! In filmmaking, hiring a great cast and crew goes a long way, along with skills as a writer and/or director. But perseverance always pays off in the end. And trust me, I needed it for this film!

heath

Heath McKnight · October 4th, 2006, 10:07 AM

Check out this video for a show-within-the-movie, created by Matt Miller:

http://904am.com/clips_play.php?id=12

During the movie, this show is brought up and plays a small roll in it. It's funny, trust me.

heath

Gabriel Yeager · October 4th, 2006, 10:22 AM

Thats really cool, Heath! The graphics are stunning!
I think that you got yourself a good crew there...

I read your update on the website. Its good to hear that things are going good, and its all starting to form together.

Keep up the hard work!
~Gabriel~

Heath McKnight · October 4th, 2006, 10:41 AM

Thanks a lot!

hwm

Heath McKnight · October 10th, 2006, 02:12 PM

We're off today, but had 4 great days of production. Check out my blog:

www.904am.com

hwm

August 20th, 2006, 03:38 PM	#16
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	You're good to go! hwm __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

August 27th, 2006, 07:49 AM	#18
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	My former lead actor had to drop out due to several reasons, including a play he joined as the lead. I had some back-up actors in mind and was able to meet with my main choice and am very, very happy with the new actor, Mike Leavitt. Everything happens for a reason, that's for sure! I now recommend having a back-up actor, not really an understudy, just someone you have in mind. That way, when something happens, you can have them come in and take over. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

September 16th, 2006, 09:03 AM	#19
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Less than 3 weeks and I've re-cast 3 actors (long story, will tell it later), and am about to wrap up casting with other actors (small parts). I have my boom op and need to hire my grip. I am hoping to get some more money so I can hire an AD/Scripty/Art Director (a friend who will do all of that for me). heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

September 28th, 2006, 10:27 PM	#20
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	One week until production begins (10/6/06) and I blog almost daily here: www.904am.com I've been doing that since December 2000 (but that's after a screw-up that deleted journals/blogs dating back to March 2000), so you can tell this has been a long-in-development project. I'm finalizing the camera (HVR-Z1u; couldn't get the V1u) and we're picking up the lights, grip and electric next Thursday. I brought aboard a production coordinator, since I can't do everything alone. She'll be helping out with all kinds of stuff, and doing make-up, too. Not bad! Rehearsals are going well, and this is more than I've done for any movie. I used to like things raw, emotional, only 2 takes maximum. But we're getting the story, rhythms, and more down, and it's cool and working well. We work on the scenes beat-by-beat, moment-by-moment, then the actors and actresses play it out. We're blocking next week, in costume, but not at our locations. Many of the actresses and actors are coming from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale (also New York City and Conneticut), so it's tough to get up to West Palm Beach (50-80 miles north of Ft. L and Miami). Crew flies in Wednesday (Jon Fordham is the DP, Boris Cifuentes is the gaffer), the rest of the crew is local. So, what else can I say? Oh yeah, I bought 50 Sony minidv tapes, just in case we need them all. I have a feeling I'll be selling some back to friends and my boss, grin. I'll do my best to blog here, but the craziness is underway. We're starting to buy food/water this weekend (non-perishables) and I'm finalizing costumes, locations/set decoration, the schedule (always in flux), etc. Um, oh yeah, I bought a 300 gb firewire drive to cut on and I think that should be good. Though I may need another for the uncompressed HD final file I'll be making for 24p conversion, output, etc. (Thanks to Graeme Nattress who came up with it.) heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

September 28th, 2006, 10:58 PM	#21
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	Congratulations Heath and best of luck! Sending you an email. Mike __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

August 20th, 2006, 03:44 PM	#17
Gabriel Yeager Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, NorthWest USA Posts: 788	Cool! Thanks a lot for helping me! ~Gabriel~

September 28th, 2006, 11:07 PM	#22
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Thanks for the email, I'll reply shortly! heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

October 2nd, 2006, 01:04 PM	#23
Curtis Kessinger New Boot Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 6	Congrats Heath, Your story is a great lesson for every filmmaker out there who wants to make their film, but can't seem to put it all together. It takes time and effort and a non-stop attitude. You have stuck to it for such a long time now on this film. Keep moving forward and let the shooting begin! Looking forward to reading more about your production.

October 2nd, 2006, 06:08 PM	#25
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	DV--the Sony Digital Master are out of my budget, but are great tapes. If I had $500, I would've gone with that. Sony minidv tapes are just fine. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

October 4th, 2006, 10:07 AM	#27
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Check out this video for a show-within-the-movie, created by Matt Miller: http://904am.com/clips_play.php?id=12 During the movie, this show is brought up and plays a small roll in it. It's funny, trust me. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

October 4th, 2006, 10:22 AM	#28
Gabriel Yeager Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, NorthWest USA Posts: 788	Thats really cool, Heath! The graphics are stunning! I think that you got yourself a good crew there... I read your update on the website. Its good to hear that things are going good, and its all starting to form together. Keep up the hard work! ~Gabriel~ __________________ Gabriel Photography

October 4th, 2006, 10:41 AM	#29
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Thanks a lot! hwm __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

October 10th, 2006, 02:12 PM	#30
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	We're off today, but had 4 great days of production. Check out my blog: www.904am.com hwm __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog