More Strindberg Pick-Ups

Our Strindberg's Assistant is truly a no-budget project. We have begged, borrowed, and then spent the little cash we have to get this movie made. The cast and crew work for nothing but food and a desire to collaborate creatively on a film that we believe will live up to our expectations. Most of those involved have other jobs that pay their bills. As a result, getting everyone together is often a daunting challenge.

So for some of the pick-ups, Mike the DP and Robert the Director have been cheating the shots. Last week, we needed to get Bjorne the Assistant (Patrick Garvey) coming down a set of stairs, then back up. But Patrick at the time was working in Chicago and unavailable.

Instead, we simply went to Mike's house, put Robert in a pair of black shoes and gray pants, and ran him up and down the basement stairs. Shot from the waist down, we had our 1910 footage of the Assistant on the steps!

Strindberg Pick-Up Shots

Yesterday, we shot pick-ups for a couple of short segments where we still needed footage. The first was a street sequence of Strindberg (played by Colin Cameron) with another 1910 gentleman (Brad Goldworthy).

Next was a shot of our housemaid, Katina (Georgia Curry), waving goodbye from the deck of a "green screen" ocean liner.

Livingston Inn Shoot #1

Yesterday was our first shoot inside the historic Livingston Inn in Madison. The Strindberg's Assistant story involves two different time periods, 1910 and modern day. Both culminate at this Bed and Breakfast

It was a long, intense day of shooting, but by day's end, we'd successfully made it through five different modern-day scenes. Actor Joyce Aasen (below right) plays Agda, a woman who's long dead grandmother is haunting her in her dreams. Grip Ivy Suryana (left) looks on...

Nicholas Wootton (right) plays the modern day Bed and Breakfast owner who's home Agda has been drawn to. Gaffer/Sound Technician Jim Bugge (left) fits Joyce with a lavaliere...

Georgia Curry (right) play Katina, Agda's grandmother as she looked back in 1910...

Michael Haven, Director of Photography...

Tashai handled the script supervisor duties on set...

Robert directed....

Photos by Colin Cameron

We're nearing completion on Strindberg's Assistant. Just a few pick up shots to get this week, then one last all-day shoot at the Bed and Breakfast again next weekend. After that, all principle photography is finished on the project.

Rehearsals for Strindberg

Immediately following our appearance at the Edgerton Book and Film Festival today, we darted back to Madison for rehearsals for tomorrow's Strindberg shoot. We met at the home of Joyce Aasen who is playing one of the leading roles in the modern day segments of the film. Practicing lines with her was Nicholas Wootton, who only this week came on board the project. He graciously agreed to fill in at the last minute for a role that had been assigned to another actor but who had to back out.

Joyce, Robert, Nicholas

DP Michael Haven and Co-Producer Colin Cameron also joined us and chimed in with some valuable suggestions.

Mike

Photos courtesy of Colin Cameron.

The Edgerton Film Fest "Chickens" Screening

We had a wonderful day today at the Edgerton Book and Film Festival. Mad City Chickens screened at the Edgerton Public Library in the morning, then we sold swag in the afternoon to a very welcoming crowd.

Following our screening, Susan Troller and S.V. Medaris gave a talk on their new book, CLUCK. Susan is pictured below with her husband and the two of us...

And S.V. after the screening...

It is indeed true. Everyone has a chickens story...we heard some doozies. Good times! Special thanks to Caroline and Frank of Itchy Cat Press for setting up this screening. Photos courtesy of Colin Cameron.