Last Night

The scene through the trees on Friday night or Sat. morning, I can't
remember.

I missed a lot of days last week but I'll be more on top of it this
week. I am tired today so I wanted to get this out early.

Night Fire

Special effects rule the nights here in Simi Valley.

Big Sky Nights

Night one of four at Big Sky Ranch. My wonderful iPhone doesn't get
service out here so I'm writing this morning before I go to sleep for
the night/day.

The first night is the hardest for me and I saw a picture of yours
truly catching a few zzzzz's. The photo was courtesy of the Sound
Mixer.

Be well.

About A Bottle

This is the most important piece of equipment on the set today. One of
the characters wears a costume in which he can't breathe well. After
each take I have to put an O2 mask on his face to help him breathe.

You're Kidding!

The Boom Operator hears that we have a 7:00AM call Monday. J. lives in
Wisconson and he's going home this weekend. The call was changed from
11:00 to 7:00 so he has to take earlier flight. I'm in favor of the
early call

Like An Army

A movie crew travels or in this case works on it's stomach. Yesterday
we had an In-N-Out truck and this ice cream/coffee set up.

Today we have calzones for our after lunch snack. Sometimes the food
takes your mind off the long hours away from family.

Monday

Monday

"Missed it by that much, Chief". Maxwell Smart, Agent 86.

I had every intention of writing yesterday but I forgot. I wanted to
post a photo and failed that too.

We have Good Friday off as one of the seven IATSE paid holidays. We
don't get paid until Accounting closes the books on the show. In some
cases this can be months after filming is complete. On the flip side,
it's nice to get that check in the mail.

We've got stunts and effects all week so we have an ambulance and an
engine from Downey Fire. It's a Big Show.

Be well.

Sent from my iPhone

Standing By

Waiting for the stunt!

Airing It Out

I got new wheels for my cart a couple of days ago. Here's Utility
Sound, Mike, fooling around with them.

We have a stunt and effect going on shortly so we have an ambulance
and a fire dept. engine. Three stuntmen will be yanked on wires as an
explosion happens.

Snake Eyes and his doubles wear a top secret costume that is very
strenuous in which to work. I will have oxygen on set when he/they work

An Angel Passes

An Angel Passes

On of our actors, Victoria Secret Angel, Karolina Kurkova works her
last day today.

I haven't had much dealing with her but she's down-to-earth and tall.

Downey Studios has earned a reputation within the movie business as a
place where crews get sick. This place was a Boeing plant where, among
other projects, the Space Shuttle was assembled. There is a lot of
unknown "stuff" in air and a lot of people became during the filming
of "Lemony Snicke" and "The Island". The name given is the "Downey
Cold".

One more day and we can enjoy another weekend.

Be well.

Sent from my iPhone

Yesterday

I meant to write yesterday but I was distracted most of the time.

Our Director showed a roughcut of a big scene yesterday which was fun
to see.

The floors at Downey are all concrete and it is very hard on the feet,
knees, and back. Even the Fire Safety Officer told me his feet were
tired from two days ago.

Today we have three moves and two stages. Gotta go make our first move

Sent from my iPhone

VFX Pattern

This has been a busy Monday. I sent a Visual FX PA to the hospital
after he sprained his ankle and a few hours later a Special Effects
Tech was hit on the head by a metal clamp that fell on him. The
laceration wasn't too bad and he continued to work.

After

The result of the car flipper. A car will be flipped next week on
stage, so it's important to control the flip.

Before

This was a SFX test.

Blue Thursday

The blue screen set for a Visual Effect. The echo in Bldg. 290 is
laughable but we carry on.

Warehouse

This facility is a former aerospace factory. However, if you look up
the Downey Studios web site, this place looks great. The truth of the
matter is the stages are dirty and drafty. What a contrast from our
location yesterday.

This is our home for most of the next two months.

Japanese Garden

Today we're working at the Huntington Museum in the Japanese Garden.
The day is beautiful and the garden is very attractive too.

We have a lot of work but not many hours of daylight so it won't be
too long a day of shooting.

I didn't get enough sleep last night so I keep nodding off as I write
this. As a result I'm going to sign off.

Be well

Motion Capture Day

Here we are shooting a short day of motion capture. This is pretty
interesting, I've never seen how this type of filming works.