October 24, 2010
I’m back! I know, it’s been awhile. I have much to say and so very little time to say it with. But I will do my best.
The crew and I have been cranking on production. In the last 7 days of shooting, we managed to get over 80 pages in the can. And that with 2 hours of power outage and an early wrap time due to extremely heavy rains that were ruining the sound.
Speaking of rain, it is now the “short rains” rainy season. Which means, if I understood the explanation to me correctly, that it rains pretty much daily at around 5 p.m. and is finished by the morning. But they are “short” because this only goes on for a month or so. The “long rains” last 3 or 4 months and start in April. It’s been pretty dry here since I arrived until now.
Almost all of the footage we have shot has been edited. It’s so good to keep the edit up with the shooting. Obvious mistakes come to view and can be quickly corrected and it helps guide the remaining shooting as well. Unfortunately we have not been able to shoot in sequence of episodes due to location problems, actor availability, etc. So it looks like our pilot first episode will be completed in early November - complete with music, titles, etc. Very exciting!
Kenya is a booming place. Almost like a gold rush here. People from all over the world have come to train, teach and sell to her. Expansion and life are everywhere. Very cool.
Write me or connect on facebook.
Cheers,
Neil
PS
Getting online with my computer is a challenge here. It’s not like at home. My iPhone has access but uploading blogs and pictures is a bit difficult. :-)
November 5, 2010
As we continue to shoot the series SAINTS many interesting and varied situations have occurred. Creating a hospital with only part of one to use and very little money for a set makes for an interesting set of problems that must be solved on a daily basis. I am a firm believer that shooting with a low budget makes a one a true filmmaker. It develops an ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently with a pure focus on getting a high quality product. I have learned through all of this was it most important in telling the story. By keeping to the integrity of the story line and the realism we are creating, I can then clearly decide on what to do in ANY given situation. It’s a wonderful thing to discover.
When this year is over, I will have directed over 1200 pages of script, cast well over 120 actors, worked on set for over 100 days and been a guide to the editors of over 26 hours of television viewing. And all of this has been done with a very tight budget.
What’s most important in this line of work? The story. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind. But if you ask the cinematographer, he or she would say the picture quality. If you ask the actors it’s the talent and skill of the lead actors. If you ask wardrobe, it’s definitely the costumes. If you ask sound, there is no doubt in their minds what makes it all work. And so on it goes. And, yes, they are all correct. Every department carries the realism that is brought to the audience. But, without a good story and the ability to stick to that story and tell it with clear and effective communication through all these departments, the audience will tune out and turn off.
So no matter what department you hail from, if you, with your highly developed skills, stick to the story and build the integrity of the story and communicate it to the audience in a clear, high quality way with the tools you have access to, you will have done your job and the audience will love you for it.
Okay, enough about shop. Let me say some things about Africa and more specifically Kenya and even more specifically than that, Nairobi. My experience here has been life-changing and eye-opening. Initially, I could see how we in the “first world” have all been duped. Duped into believing that the “third world” is full of pain and suffering and disease and just an overall crappy way of life. We, my friends, are being sold on an idea of “first world” and “third world” that is completely made up. People can be happy and life fulfilled lives no matter where they are and no matter what they have access to. People are people and do what people do no matter the country and the “world” they are from or live in currently. The vast majority are living honest, productive lives and improving life for themselves and those around them. I see it everywhere here and those who live that way are happy. It isn’t just materialism and whether you have things of luxury or convenience. It is the game of making things better. If that includes various material things along the way, fine. But, to me, in the end, it’s what you create and what you leave behind. A mess? Or an improvement? And does it help one person or many? These are all things I have witnessed here.
I have had the most wonderful opportunity to travel half-way around the world and really see life. There is something about leaving your home and your culture and your day-to-day existence and then work in a completely different environment than what you are used to. It should be done by everyone. I think I will implement a world-wide program making it mandatory and I will start with North America! Then this planet will start to calm down and get busy with what is important. Hah - another idealism!
Enjoy the photos of our set - the characters, the crew and the locations. I also have photos of some baby elephants at the nearby orphanage. They were like a bunch of puppies running around. Very cute and funny!
My next blog will be much, much sooner.
Neil
Director and DOP - Neil and Sean
Sound Recordist = George
Laura (continuity) and Nurse Lora (played by Sarah)
me
Key Grip Shem and DOP Sean
Meghan who plays Dr. Katherine Stewart
Newborn scene
A short break
Wants some bling
trying to want some bling
Watching a scene being shot
Stay away from the camera!
What the....?
Nurse Milo (her real name is Nice)
Posted call sheet with the done scenes crossed off.
Dr. Sabaa and Nurse Milo
Hurry up and wait!
Dr. Stewart and Nurse Jeff
Directing the Set Dec
Get lost!
It was a long day!
A cool shot! The beauty of the 5D Mk II.
Street shooting.
Gorilla shooting.
Steadicam shooting.
Dr. Mugo and Dr. Stewart
Mwende
Nurse
Nurse Juliet
Reviewing the scene.
Blocking
More Steadicam
fooling around
Muslim father and daughter
Ouch!
Dr. Salma and Nurse Lora
Nurse Jeff and Nurse
Nurse Juliet and Dr. Max Ofula
A little girl at the market.
Shooting at the market.
Near the market.
A sick man and his daughter.
It's official!
Camera crew - Johnny and Sean.
Directing a scene.
Resting in-between shots.
Jewelle and Shamim.
Dr. Mugo's office.
Eugene, Meghan and Sean.
My 1st AD, Alex.
The baby elephant orphanage!
They love the mud and the water!
Sun screen!
An attack!
Much needed back rub.
Sabaa and Stewart getting ready to roll.
Waiting for lighting.
Cody played by Grayson Gurnsey.
