the sky's a gorgeous blue and i don't care
6:45 am: My uncle picks me up and we head to Annendale to a little tavern where an independent filmmaker is shooting his latest movie, Requiem for a Vampire.
8:30 am: As the first shot is being set up with band equipment, lighting, and camera track, the "bar patrons" are told to get into character. I am given a gothic necklace and a skull earring to wear. We are all told that we will be seeing three performances today. The first will be by a band of humans, the second by a band of vampires (including the film's lead actor), and the third by the same band performing second only with a slight alteration that fits in with the film's conclusion.
9:00 am: The first band performs a run through to get accustomed to the song. My uncle is asked to play bass in this band, so he is the focus of many shots. The third or fourth time the band performs the song, the director decides to do a sweep of the audience to get reaction and movement. One of the two cameras stays on the side of the bar where I am sitting for the entire song.
9:30 am: The second band takes the stage and performs their song five times. The lead actor is terrible with lip-synching, but the director seems satisfied. He decided to use the footage of the crowd watching the first band to save time, so a sweep of the bar is not necessary for this band.
10:00 am: The final performance begins. The lead actor does much better this time around. After doing a few takes solely of the band, the director brings several of us right up to the stage to film us dancing and bobbing our heads to the music. I am front and center moving to the chords played by the vampiric band (the song they did is actually very good, by the way).
10:45 am: Before calling it a day, the final shot is set up. At the last minute the director decides to get a shot of a few of the patrons entering the bar. Since it is broad daylight outside, the men's bathroom is used as the entrance rather than the front door. I am one of six patrons filmed paying the cover charge before entering the bar.
All in all... today was an awesome experience. Having the lights shining in your eyes, a camera filming you literally inches from your face... it was just great.
And it's still a trip to think that my face is going to be featured on a gigantic screen when Requiem is shown at Sci-Fi/Horror conventions next year and possibly even at underground film festivals.
Not bad for LEAD DANCER to be featured in a movie.
8:30 am: As the first shot is being set up with band equipment, lighting, and camera track, the "bar patrons" are told to get into character. I am given a gothic necklace and a skull earring to wear. We are all told that we will be seeing three performances today. The first will be by a band of humans, the second by a band of vampires (including the film's lead actor), and the third by the same band performing second only with a slight alteration that fits in with the film's conclusion.
9:00 am: The first band performs a run through to get accustomed to the song. My uncle is asked to play bass in this band, so he is the focus of many shots. The third or fourth time the band performs the song, the director decides to do a sweep of the audience to get reaction and movement. One of the two cameras stays on the side of the bar where I am sitting for the entire song.
9:30 am: The second band takes the stage and performs their song five times. The lead actor is terrible with lip-synching, but the director seems satisfied. He decided to use the footage of the crowd watching the first band to save time, so a sweep of the bar is not necessary for this band.
10:00 am: The final performance begins. The lead actor does much better this time around. After doing a few takes solely of the band, the director brings several of us right up to the stage to film us dancing and bobbing our heads to the music. I am front and center moving to the chords played by the vampiric band (the song they did is actually very good, by the way).
10:45 am: Before calling it a day, the final shot is set up. At the last minute the director decides to get a shot of a few of the patrons entering the bar. Since it is broad daylight outside, the men's bathroom is used as the entrance rather than the front door. I am one of six patrons filmed paying the cover charge before entering the bar.
All in all... today was an awesome experience. Having the lights shining in your eyes, a camera filming you literally inches from your face... it was just great.
And it's still a trip to think that my face is going to be featured on a gigantic screen when Requiem is shown at Sci-Fi/Horror conventions next year and possibly even at underground film festivals.
Not bad for LEAD DANCER to be featured in a movie.