Smoke in the Air

As a final send off before leaving for the west coast, I completed my *first feature film*! 

" the four" Craig (John ), Margo (me), Nate (Max), Jenn (Erica)

And when I say "I" that is a complete understatement... The production team and rest of the cast did quite the unthinkable task of shooting 107 scenes in just 13 days.  For those of you not familiar with the film making process, those 107 scenes are then broken down into different shots.  So a single scene can be seen from as many as 15 different viewpoints.  Ok, that is a bit of an overstatement, but next time you watch your favorite movie try and notice when shot changes from a close up to a wide shot of the actors.  Those would be different takes of the same scene.  But I digress! 

 some of the wonderful crew: Peter (lighting), JP (camera op), Atticus (sound man extraordinaire), Kevin (DP)

Of those 312 hours we were in production I'm guessing there is about 200 hours of footage to sort through and edit before there is a rough cut of the film.  From there sound is tweaked, music is added, title cards are arranged and much more before it is ready for its premiere.  The goal is for Smoke in the Air to be finalized for a film festival in 2014 of the director, Connor Smith's, choice!  

Anyhow, our last day of shooting (4:30pm Monday to just after sunrise Tuesday morning about 6:50am) was quite cinematic in itself.  We were all feeling the effects of little sleep, yet words cannot describe how we all felt when the sun rose and the crew got the final shots.  Here we were, a cast and crew all under 23 and we did something that many people said would be impossible.  

Naturally champagne was popped and toasts were said!

 our director Connor and writer/actor Max

I am so grateful to have worked with such a talented group of hard working people.  AND I can't wait to work with everyone again.  Maybe next time it will be in LA, or back in the Chicago suburbs filming a sequel...

last day of production sunrise

production still with Sam

final night shoot!

how my name will appear in the opening credits

one of the first night shoots at Valley Lo

camera rigged to "Nate's" car 

bedroom set created for Erica's character, Jenn

the best stand ins "like ever!"

JP filming a party close up

and "that's a wrap!"