Movin on up! .... er.... down. Downtown...

I'm not one for musicals, but I can't help but humming the tune "Down - town... doodeedeedoodoo ... downtown". So now its an official thingee. I have taken the road show down to Wall St. and will now be working out of the Scribemedia offices. A darn good thing too, as I am getting tired of waking up to my work and emerging three days later with a bleary eyed sense that the world has passed me by as I have been pecking away at some project or another. Having everything at home has threatened to desocialize me and turn me into a crusty cereal chomping hermit. Now, I'm going big time in the realm of commercial film and industrials with a real live organization behind me. Nice change from trying to tackle the world by myself (for which I am woefully underequipped in all ways). Scribe and my wee little venture Red Razor Films are teaming up to produce commercials and do other similar sorts of things. Please forgive the ars motion website - I bought the domain this morning and threw the website up before the thing even finished registration. New, better equipped and snazzier digs on the way within the week. I am taking suggestions for color pallette and design ideas - submit! :)

Wonderwheels a' turnin

So Sunday was that hot, magical sort of day that occasionally springs up in October for New Yorkers - last one I remember was 2004 - when the freedom of a weekend and balmy fun weather coincide to make one last great day before the big frost. We shot out at the Wonderwheel in Coney Island and things went surprisingly well. It only took two trips on the big wheel to get what we needed, and then it was off to shoot some fun stuff with the freakish crowd of Coney Island. New Murphy's law of production: Everybody wants to stare right into the camera when you have the most important part of the shot almost done.

All in all, the shoot went swimmingly. I somehow screwed up the color balance between takes (must have bumped something) which I wouldn't have done had I not been quite so rushed to get into the car and film, and the audio was a little hinky on one of the actors - all things that I have the tools and knowledge to fix - I would just prefer not to have to.

The Wonderwheel crew were funny and weird, a little pushy at times, but theey have to be - or I as a filmmaker will grind the ride to a halt given the slightest chance. A big thank you to Joe Franklin, Jim Davis, and Dennis "Deno" Vourderis - owner of the Wonderwheel - for making this great day possible. And an extra helping of thank you to m two actors - Jason Madera for sticking to the game plan and to Jessica King for pitch hitting at the last minute and knocking in a grand slam. We couldn't have had a more enjoyable and productive shoot for what had previously threatened to be a disaster of a day. Serendipity! ... and very happy the Wonderwheel didn't roll off into the ocean with us a aboard.
*** note: People actually scream while riding 5 miles per hour in the wonderwheel??? WOW!