High Noon Saloon Pickup Shot for "Circles the Drain" film

It was in September 2013 that we shot the bar scene for our Don Circles the Drain project. Unfortunately, we found in the edit that we needed to add a bystander who overhears the conversation of our main characters and then texts her friends about it. Yesterday, we finally got this shot.

Associate Producer/Script Supervisor Kelly Lajter set up the pickup shoot for us at the High Noon Saloon in Madison. She also helped us out by playing the person who does the texting.

Executive Producer Rick Richards was there and reprised his background role as the bartender; Associate Producer Colin Camera again played the patron having a drink at the bar.

Behind-the-scenes photos courtesy of Colin Cameron.

Nearing the end of Pickup Shots for "Don Circles the Drain"

Don Circles the Drain--Surviving Access TV in 10 Easy Steps (aka The Weather Report) is nearing completion! In an effort to get this film done, we've ramped up our normal editing schedule, having worked every single day in March just on this one project. It's paying off. The fat has been trimmed, and we're well into the finishing work. 

Now with a clear vision of the final story, we've had to go out to shoot several quick pickup shots to complete it. A downtown building, hands pulling on a cable, water circling a bathtub drain, a neon "BAR" sign. A few more of these video clips and we'll have everything we need.

Madison Civics Club Video Shoot with Joan Goldsmith

On Saturday, Robert joined Luciano Matheron of Brazen Video Productions at the Monona Terrace to shoot another in a series of Madison Civics Club events. The main speaker was international mediator, coach and educator, Joan Goldsmith.

The video will appear on Madison's Community Television in April. Earlier event speakers have included Jackie Joyner-Kersee and author Peter Palmer.

"Just God" Screens in Green Bay

Just God screened at the Green Bay Film Festival on Saturday. Good people. Fun times.

A few of the Just God crew (L-R): Writer/Director Nicholas Wootton; Executive Producer Jill Wootton; Associate Producer Kelly Lajter; Pick-up shots photographer Jeff Blankenship; Production Manager Robert Lughai.

Photo by Colin Cameron.

"Weather Report" becomes "Don Circles the Drain"

For the last year and a half, the name of our collaborative short project with C-Side Films has been going by the working title of The Weather Report, a moniker modified from the original feature-length script by Executive Producer Rick Richards. Now that the edit is nearing completion, the movie is "asking" for a new title. We needed to choose something that more closely conveys the feel of the short. We think we found it: Don Circles the Drain.

In these four words, we have immediately informed the viewers of several things before they ever see the first frame. We know who the protagonist is. We know his plight and are now, hopefully, being hooked into wanting to learn its details. And although we can't be 100% certain, we suspect that this may have a comedic tone.

In addition, there's a humungous subtitle we're adding too. So the full title of our short little film is Don Circles the Drain--Surviving Access TV in 10 Easy Steps. That's a mouthful but we hope memorable too.