Pity Kiss Productions

I feel like I need to organize everything that needs to be done to get this movie going.

So much planning, so little time, so much guilt for trying to work on the script while in school. I do want to do it this summer though and I think everyone involved would like to see it come to fruition at some point, preferably sooner, since I won't shut up about it.

Personally, I would like to get the script complete by May 25th... I believe I will be finishing up my final class, so I'm thinking this will be OK. I just have to work on it a bit more--- passionately?-- Then I have been. I know on my end, it's been hard to focus because every time I try to work on it, I become guilty that I haven't done enough to study for my math class. Even though, hours of study rarely help me-- Buuut, I do it anyway.

Along with this completion date, then begins ultimate planning time. Hardcore and I don't mean this lightly. Anyone involved is either going to be sitting down with Sara and I and we're going to let them know what we need done, or they will be e-mailed/corresponded with until they don't want to check their inboxes every again.

We're also going to need a lot of equipment too

Video Camera:

I know it seems kind of ridiculous that we're trying to make a film and we're missing a key piece of technology, but as I've said previously, I'm hoping to save some money after Greece to purchase a new one. I would like to get a high quality camera to replace the one I broke, but of course those are pricey. My dad had a lead on what may be a surprising dip in price. My only problem is that with most high-def cameras, the video is saved directly onto the camera which you then offload onto your computer. With standard cameras, you have other options-- Mini dv, CDs, that way you have a physical back-up, just in case. If your computer goes kaput, then too bad. We'll have to see if my dad's lead comes through.

Lighting Equipment

As much as I wish I had $3,000 to spend on lighting kits... Let's face it, if I had $3,000 I would be spending it on something much more practical... Like a house. But, Sara has some connections that may allow us to have proper lighting for a change. True to my nature though, I never assume or oblige people into sharing their hard earned property. I will, however, gladly accept anything that's offered. We're hoping to make a softbox out of PVC and the like for our night shots and anything else that requires more exact lighting then-- I don't know... Firelight.

Because I refuse to light any of my films by candlelight ever again... Ever. Again.

Boom & Mic

Hopefully whatever camera I have purchased by the end of May, early June has a decent microphone. Just in case we can't get a separate one to plug into the camera itself. I think we could probably find a good, inexpensive one at Radioshack or Best Buy. Hopefully. I found a few but since I'm looking online I can't be sure they're compatible with the camera-- since we don't have one yet. We might have to get this all at once unless the microphone has a standard jack to plug into it. We can make a boom for it from an old broom handle or something similar. Windscreens can't be more than a few dollars, I'll be sure to look into it.

Dollys, Tracks, Glidecam etc.

We have access to a dolly/track, which may have to be lengthened a bit for our purposes, but I can't imagine that would be too difficult if the majority if it is already complete. We need to assmble a crane for our opening shot, which I don't think will be too difficult. My only concern is how to attach the camera. When I was at U of I, they had one that had a little "shelf" that you screwed the bottom of the camera onto and it would balance itself out so that when you raise and lower it, it doesn't tip or go the entirely wrong direction. I have no idea how to do that under $30... The one at U of I was over $400 and they made you sign in blood and the indenturment of your first born to check it out. Hoepfully people more technically inclined than myself (which is anyone) can figured it out. As for the glidecam, we definitely need one or something as close to a glidecam as possible. It will allow us to rotate the camera on a pole to keep the shot smooth, but the kicker is the pole is attached to a vest or a contraption that rests over the shoulders of the DP so they are somewhat hands free and have something to balance it against. We're probably going to have to find a pattern for that, which-- there's a site that sells them, but Sara and I will have to see if there are kind souls out there that will take pity on poor moveimakers such as ourselves and give it to us for free.

Just to be clear... Professional Glidecams cost aaround $1500+. U of I didn't have one until the fall of 2007 and I wasn't even allowed to touch it.

Free is not necessarily evil.

Props

Are going to have to be listed after we finish the script. Who knows what we'll need. I'll be sure to update as soon as we find out.

Costumes

The good news is that I've found patterns that will work for our purposes and not only that, these patterns, which are normally between $8-20 are on sale for 5 for $5 today. So my mom and I are going to go pick those up and any little special things that might also be on sale. Fabric is on sale too, but since we're still looking for bodies to put into the costumes, it's probably not prudent to buy it now. I wish I could that, that would make life a little easier. Not that I could afford much of it right now anyway. Thanks to work cutting my hours, my check is hella smaller than I was hoping. So not a lot of purchasing of nice things for a while, since I have to restart saving for my own travels come April.

Major annoyance for me.

Well, I must be going, this is just the beginning folks. I'm hoping to sit down with Sara sometime and see what kind of money we're willing to pay, since we're both lacking in financial fortitude, it'll be fine though. As long as I do some fancy saving, we're going to do just fine.