"Miss Laid" - A ZazaCast Films Presentation

ZazaCast

ZazaCast

Major Contributor
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Mike Manocchi

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....and Christie Szpyrka
 
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PICTURES HERE:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/album.php?albumid=62


12/14/08
Script is out for review & so far the responce has been good. I've been working on the storyboards and as soon as the script is totally locked, I'll get the shot list together. I'm going to try and be really creative with the camera movement on this one. Things are going to slow down a bit with the holidays upon us...but I'd like to start getting the location scouting done before the new year.

I'll probably be shooting on a variety of cameras...DVX100b (with & without 35mm adapter), HV20 & the D90...we'll see how they match-up.

I'm also trying to deal with all the tree damage from the ice storm that hit us this past Friday...it's always something!

12/16/08
I had a couple more auditions yesterday...and a couple more set-up for tomorrow. I'm still surprized at the number of responses to my Craigslist ad and the willingness of the actresses to act in semi-nude scenes! I had to take the ad down as the inquiries just keep coming in. I hope to make my choice for the lead by next week....then I have to move on to the male roles. I'm not anticipating ANY problem finding the young men needed for this production.

Looking into a few location with hopes of find a nice suites hotel room that would fill all my needs.

12/17/08
As I sit here typing, I can't help but wonder if anyone really takes the time to read any of this? I mean, I spent a ton of time on my last fest entries threads...keeping a detailed log of every step of the process. I really don't think people pay too much attention to these threads. This makes me ask myself why I do it? I already know all the hoops I've had to jump through to get my films made and I don't have to read about them all over again. I was also very disappointed with the lack of good critiques in the last fest. We all work very hard on our films (I hope) and most of us are looking to become better filmmakers, so I don't know about the rest of you, but the comments, both good & bad are the real reason I enter these things. Prizes are nice and we do have wonderful sponsers here at DVXuser.com, but again, I come here to learn and share openly any knowledge that I have to offer....a prize is just an extra. I did just win the 'Pets' photo contest, Woo Hoo! Go Me! All this makes me want to rethink these fests in general. I don't know if I'm going to watch, comment & vote on all the films this time. I might be selective and only watch the ones from filmmakers that watched, commented & hopefully voted on my films....or maybe I'll just vote in the final round. I took the time to watch every film and comment on it in the last two fests (that's as long as I've been a member here)...and being the 'do unto others' kind of guy, I was unrealistically expecting the favor to be returned. Silly me. I guess I'm most disappointed in the younger filmmakers here (not all of them) as it seems todays youth doesn't have the same values anymore. Enough...I'm sure no one is going to be reading this...and if you do, I'd really be interested in your thoughts on the subject?

I leave you with the most sincere wishes for only the very best & most successful New Year.

Happy Holidaze!!

12/29/08
Well...as it turns out, it was much easier finding actresses willing to bare all then it is finding the right location. Who'da thunk? Maybe I should start shooting porn? I've spent the last few days scouting but haven't been able to find just the right place for the 'shower' scenes (yes...shower scenes!). At the same time, I'm trying to get costumes together too. I'd like to find some time to do a few test shots before production starts, but at this rate it will never happen.

Still tweaking the script a bit and it's coming together nicely...very funny (I hope).

1/23/09
ZazaCast #001

2/22/09
:( Production postponed.

April/May shoot...release June/July 2009.
No worries, I want to take my time and make this a good one. Thank you for your understanding.

5/10/09
New hope! Looks like it's back on. I had a little 'trouble' with a member of the cast, but all is looking good now. I was lucky enough that the theme of this film not only worked for LossFest, but it also got a greenlight for QuestFest. I've had to tweak the script a little because I just could not find the proper location for one of the key scenes.

I now have my main actress back on track, have cast the male lead and the three other small male parts (i don't like the sound of that?). Most of the costumes have been found, ordered or made. Hit the Dollar Store (LOVE that place for props & whatnots). Setting-up a read-through for sometime next week...and I'll also be locking locations. Hoping to capture some sound EFX that will be needed tomorrow with my new Sound Devices 722.

Stay tuned for update & pictures!

5/14/09
O.K., new pictures up...new poster up! Final costumes on order. I'm still trying to decide on one of the locations. Why does all this stuff always come down to the wire?


5/18/09
I feel like I'm hearding cats! Really... to me the toughest (and least fun) part of filmmaking is trying to get everyone together. Trying to organize 4 people with VERY different schedules is becoming near impossible...3 can make it on one date...and a different 3 can make it on another...damn! Lighting, shooting and editing is the easy part compared to this. As the clock keeps ticking, I refuse to quit on this one. It needs to me made.


5/24/09
Well, things are starting to fall into place. As it stands now (and with a little luck) I'll be shooting this film over two weekends June 6th & 7th and June 13th & 14th. I still have a few costumes to get together and need to finish the storyboards, but everything should be ready. I have to start with the end of the film first, then on to the 'meat' of the project over the next weekend. This is cutting it close again and will only leave a few weeks for the edit, score and mixing. I still have some sound EFX to collect and a small dolly to build, speaking of which, I came up with a really cool idea that will allow me to use the dolly wheels from my Kessler K-Pod. Fingers still crossed!


6/6/09
O.K., finally...tomorrow we shoot the end sequence of the film. I can't wait to see what we come up with. As long as the weather is good, we should be able to pull this off in no time. The second location is locked and we're ready to the rest of the film next Saturday June 13th. I did recieve some bad news Friday...on of my bit part actors backed out. Not a big deal. I filled the spot with Mike Manocchi and all is well.


This one has been such a LONG time coming. I really can't believe it's actually going to get made! I've just contacted Damian Sanchez to see if he's still available to score it. Please wish us luck. Cheers!


6/7/09
Great day! I think we got everything we needed for the end sequence of the film. Everyone gave it their all and I think it will show in the end. The weather held out and no one bugged us as we shot....just some really strange looks from passer-bys. We're all set for Saturday. I was able to find a nice suite to shoot in (plus, I'll get a good free breakfast in the morning!).


6/9/09
Now it's starting to come together. I got a rough cut of the end of the film. Damian Sanchez as agreed to score this one...and since it's not dialog heavy, the score will make it. I consider myself extremely luck to have such a talent individual as Damian on board. I'm REALLY looking forward to see what he comes up with. I still have a few props to find and a bunch of gear to lug up to the third floor suite I booked, but I'm looking forward to it.


6/11/09
Bought almost all the final props & costumes I need for the shoot Saturday. I still need a couple things, but should be able to pick them up tonight. Tomorrow I'll get all the gear together and see if I can get early arrival at the hotel. All the actors are ready to go...it's all falling into place... finally. Once I get this shot, I'll ask a mod to move this thread. I want to make sure I have everything first. There seems to be quite a few productions dropping out of QuestFest & I don't want to one of them. Better safe than sorry!

I added a new poster design using a picture from the shoot... I hope it doesn't give too much away!

6/12/09
Well...I'm ready for the shoot tomorrow. Check-in to the suite is 10am....cast should be there at 12 noon...and away we go! I have a truckload of 'stuff'. Damn this gear gets heavy in my advanced age! I'm working up the last of the shot list to make sure I have complete coverage and even a few alternate endings. It's going to be a LONG day, but those are always the most fun.
Cheers!!

6/14/09
Well...everything is in the can! We got all the shots we need...it was a REAL long day/night. Shot from 12 noon to 2am. Everyone was a trooper. It was a good time...not a policeman or Llama to be found anywhere. I've captured all the footage and getting some rest before putting together a rough cut that can go off to Damian for scoring.

6/18/09
Alright...we're cookin' now! I got a great rough cut together and off to Damian for his take on it. He came up with a wonderful theme (but of course). I've now had both Christie and Mike in for my few ADR needs and the both of them did a great job. Neither one of them had ever done ADR before. I wanted to be sure Christie was comfortable with the nudity...and (thank God) she was. What a great girl! Mike and Ben were also fine with Christie's nudity...there's a big surprize. I'm now rendering the picture lock and uploading to my ftp site for Damian to work with. More soon.

6/24/09
Today, I've finished the edit and Damian's score is working great. Just the feel I was looking for. Now it's on to some color correction and grading, but I kind of like the look of this with just some little tweaks and some MB black diffusion for that nice 'dreamy' look. Lets see what happens...plenty of time to play with it.

6/26/09
Done, compressed and ready to upload! I hope people enjoy the film, as it was a lot of fun to put together...it was a royal PIA, but fun. Sometimes you just have to beat a project into submission!
 
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Challenge? Yes... but that's half the fun!
(I won't be sharing any out-takes here...that's for sure)
 
Wow, just noticed your thread. Great poster ZazaCast! This is going to be the one to keep an eye on.

:beer:
 
I am not legally permitted to comment on this in any positive manner other than to say I am glad to see you are entering a film this time around too. :D

Oh, and Tom, good use of that font color. :)
 
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