"Sex, Drugs & Natalie Portman"

Maybe Chad just doesn't want to play spoilsport himself, but folks, Portman is SAG. Even if she read this thread and called Chad begging to sign on, there's more to it than that.

Granted, I do not actually know what it would take to turn a non-SAG commercial feature already in progress into a SAGworthy affair.



Rick McCallum loves you!

 

lol... who said it was a non-union film?

And yes, you can become a SAG signatory after having already started filming (so long as you had been using only non union talent prior).

But this is a general misconception with filmmakers. This is America, you can cast whomever you want. YOU will not be fined for using SAG actors. That's the actor's problem. If they knowingly take part in a non union project, SAG can fine THEM (if SAG ever finds out). SAG can also perma-ban a member from the union, but name the last actor that was cast out of SAG, no pun intended. I can't name one. Major actors, including Keanu Reeves, Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson, Ahnold Shwaaaarznegger and a huge list of others all were SAG actors acting in non union films when they first had their breakout roles. I don't even know that half of them were fined. Do you think they care, all these years later? No. SAG cannot limit your film's distribution either, unless you've signed a contract. And when you sign a contract, you sign for LIFE. This is why you need an LLC to sign as the signatory, so your name as a filmmaker is not attached to a SAG contract. Because that would suck.

Anyway, long story short, I can't say either way about any possible NP involvement, nor will I. Next subject.

 

Casting has been completed on all major roles in the film. It's been a VERY painstaking task, as casting always is. Some very talented folks came in and some hard decisions were made. Thanks to all the actors that took the time to come in and read for us!

Here's the final lead roles as cast:

Jacklyn - Lead female. To be played by Erin Bodine. Ah, Erin... The very recognizable Erin Bodine played the incestious sister character in "Roleplayed" (and also the loveable Lacey in "The Next Stage" - yes, Adam, I have blank tapes now and will begin sending them to you). Erin does not have an imdb page yet (but should soon). You can check out her performance in "Roleplayed" here: clickie

Erin Bodine:
[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp-cast/Erin_Bodine.jpg]

John - Lead male. To be played by Nick Mathis, VP of Pizza. Nick doesn't need any introduction last I checked. He's the contest winning champion of pizza, who just got voted into the top 20 for yet another contest (www.filmaka.com), and pizza hut just hired him to make another commercial for them which should be on pizzahut.com next week. Nick on IMDB

Nick Mathis:
[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp-cast/Nick_Mathis.jpg]

Hank - Supporting male. To be played by Al Cardinale. Al, a musician, has done the rounds in Hollywood as a musician amongst many other acting gigs. Al's myspace page can be found here. His IMDB page is here.

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp-cast/Alexander_Cardinale.jpg]

Renee - Supporting female. To be played by Anne McDaniels. Few people could match the required fiestyness of Renee's character than Anne McDaniels. A former Minnesota Vikings cheerleader-turned-actress with a very dark edge, Anne brings an extra dose of dry wit that fits the mold of most my flicks. Anne's IMDB profile.

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp-cast/Anne_Mcdaniels.jpg]

Sassy Boots - Supporting female. To be played by Elizabeth Sandy. According to her website, Elizabeth has been in Los Angeles for mere months now, having moved from Melbourne, Australia to persue the dream of acting. Already an accomplished actor in Australia, Elizabeth brings a solid acting background and a nice foreign twist to our little film. Elizabeth's IMDB Profile and her personal website. And a reel

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp-cast/Elizabeth_Sandy.jpg]

 

Talk about professional-looking headshots. I whipped up a cast promo sheet when doing pre-production last semester, and I just cropped everyone's facebook photos.

"Sassy Boots"? Heh. The whole cast looks pretty sassy so far.

-Vaportrail

 

One of the benefits of hiring pros.

 

Some screenshots from the past week...

(copied over from my post on the cinematography thread)

Some recent images from my first feature... I've been doing all in-camera filter effects and using all natural lighting thus far.

Panasonic HVX200
Lens filters used:
--Tiffen 82mm .6ND Gradiant filter (to darken the top half of the image)
--Tiffen 82mm Circular Polarizer (to decrease shine and really get the most out of the bright skies).
--A simple hand-cut Full C.T.O. + .6ND filter (a dark brown gel, cut in a circle) - not the most professional way to go about it, but works just fine if you keep it clean. Adds some interesting artifacts to lens flare, not necessarily the greatest.

Here are the results... The following images have not been color corrected at all:

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_6.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_7.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_8.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_9.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_10.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_11.jpg]

 

The latest stills from the film shoot.... 60% complete with principal photography!

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_22.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_23.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_24.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_25.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_26.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_27.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_28.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_29.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_30.jpg]

[image=http://www.np2k.com/images/sdnp_still_31.jpg]

 

Yeah.
Jealous. Proud. Excited. All of these things come to mind.

-Vaportrail

 

I work only for you, Vapor. Only for you.

 

Looks fantastic - keep it up!

 

Umm. Wow. That's about all that comes to mind. You have a great eye, man.

 

Whats up chad, cassidy here, dude, I totally forgot how well you use a camera, I am totally waiting for this projects completion bro. Those stills are some of the best D.P. work I have seen in many years, and I dont just mean on these boards.
If you need anything p.m. me or email me, but keep us posted, she's lookin great!!!

 

You're rocking my socks Chad. #'s 25 and 27 are my fav's. Also awesome exposures man, it's nice to see some digital stills where the sky is blow out to high hell. In #26, was the staging of the bikini girl in relation to the halo of clouds a purposeful thing, or just a happy accident? Either way, awesome.

 

question.....what filters did you use. It looks almost like an 85 or some kinda conversion, or was your saturation done in the camera house or in post?

 

Hi chad. I've been out of the loop for a long time, so is this replacing aka life as the third part of the trilogy right.....is lucia from KMFDM still in it? and really good looking screens from the film.....i expect nothing but the best chad

 

Hey peeps,

Been gone shooting for a while... But I'm back now.

We're wrapped on principal photography!

Still have some stuff to shoot & reshoot in November or so, but as of now I'm packed and moving back to Colorado for the duration of post production (I'll be moving back to LA in about a year or so, after some other projects). Lemme see if I can remember all the questions.... with some answers.

Lens filters... I first white balanced the camera to daylight. Then from there I added a .6ND FULL CTO (the "85") - which made the images brown - then added a circular polarizer to darken the skies... and lastly, a .6ND graduated filter (used to make the top half of the frame darker than the bottom). In some instances I took away the .6ND FULL CTO, knowing I could later color correct the image and match (usually I did this when there wasn't enough light - or because the filter would flare weird (it was a simple piece of plastic)).

Will Lucia (of KMFDM) be in this movie? No. I'm hoping she'll one day be in "aka Life", the other feature I finished writing recently, but she's planning a move to Germany soon! Just talked to her yesterday... She seems to be doing well. Sadly, as time passes, there's less and less a chance she'll be in the movie... we'll see.

...The halo of clouds in #26. That was a mix of on purpose and luck. Since I can't exactly tell GOD to put those clouds there, it was sheer luck that they formed that way. I saw them up there and was like, "holy shnike! we gotta get that!" Anne's boobs also help. *twitch*

........

At some point in the middle of production, I got tired of having to record audio on my own.... So I kept recording audio, but not professionally. I finally broke down and accepted the fact that this movie will be almost 100% ADR. Yup. Won't be easy, but I'm sickly looking forward to the pain. If every major Hollywood film is close to 75-100% ADR, I might as well just jump on the darn boat already.

Anyway, I arrive back in Colorado next week - at which point I will begin the editing process.... of the first teaser trailer.

 

Wow, you beat me. I lose.
How long did it take you to shoot this whole thing?

-Vaportrail

 

We had 34 shooting days, spread out over about 80 days...

I look forward to sleeping again.

 

Now, are you going back to LA for the November reshoots? You're still gonna be living in CO, though?

Also, when does the thing that I want to touch and lick and romance get to you? Late November, something like that?


- Branco

 

:: Also, when does the thing that I want to touch and lick and romance get to you? ::

Won't he see his Mom in CO?



anyway,

Nick "Shorty: Long

 

Yeah, back to LA for the reshoots. Trying to arrange some, uh, cameos during that time. wink wink nudge nudge. And yes, I'll be living in Colorado still at that time.

As far as the thing you want to make sweet, sweet love to... well.... dunno when that's arriving. I'm actually gonna guess it won't ship until Jan/Feb. The later the better - gives Nick and I more time to settle and put money together for it.

I'm settled in Colorado now. Start editing the film today. Should have an "official site" or something like that up within the next week or two. A teaser trailer should be up in the next month or two.

 

I didn't realize Chad was actually Eric Idle.

 

Here it is, folks! My latest Cinematography Demo Reel is up and online - it features nothing but footage from the upcoming SDNP feature film. I've uploaded a few different versions to choose from:

a.) youtube (crappy quality, but speedy) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIDCMcBF8zI

b.) 720p HD (gorgeous and recommended) - http://www.np2k.com/videos/DP_Reel_090407_720p.mov
(It's 190 mbytes.... I'd "save link as" if I were you)

c.) myspace version coming shortly.

 

Anyone would think you're looking for work Chad!


anyway,

Nick "Shorty" Long

 

Ugh.
Odds are that larger file isn't going to run smoothly on this computer, but I'll give it a go first.

So stoked for this.

-Vaportrail