This "diary" is being started a little bit later than most production dairies are generally started. Here I am, after a few days of semi-intense filming during which we managed to get about 90% of principle photography accomplished. We will get the remaining 10% sometime soon (assuming the XL1s' stop having random problems)

The goal of this project is to combine suspense/mystery and sadness with a western genre. In order to avoid cliches commonly associated with the western genre, some creative alterations were made in order to keep peoples interest. (for example: Most people have seen a scene in a movie where someone gets hung on a gallows. But I gaurantee you that noone has ever seen a scene where someone is hung on a yellow rope on a gallows that has playing cards nailed all over it. People have seen scenes where people play cards, but not scenes were people play with cards that have the faces missing on the Jacks, Queens, and Kings) Its hard to describe it without giving away the plot. The most exciting thing about this project is that for the first time, Ive looked at shots Ive designed (I prefer to direct, and not film) and stepped back and said "Whoa...thats awesome".

Ill put some pictures and stills up soon (13 foot high gallows we built, how I just about cut the tip of my index finger off (it hard to type with guaze wrapped around your finger), and assorted other things.)

Well, I am off to oversee a dialogue-recording session, because during one particular shoot in a barn it was raining extremely hard and unfortunately not even an $1000 shotgun mic can capture good audio amidst such rapid clanging noises coming from the tin roof.

Ill have more details and pictures coming up as soon as possible, wish me luck.

Awesome, I love westerns! Are you going to submit here, because I would love to see it.

Dude! Cool! More news please, and pictures

Hopefully Ill be over at the "studio" in an hour or so to work on some editing. Ill try to get a whole lot of pictures if Im over there. Should we edit on FCP or Premiere... hmmm... which am I in the mood for...

Cursed scheduling conflicts between me and my editor! (Editing postponed untill next Saturday) In the meantime Ive got to find an alternate location to shoot a scene involving our gallows, a little harder than it seems because people have a tendency to be extrememly nervous about letting people put on their property a very large device that is used to hang people. Looks like Ive got to drive to the middle of nowhere (which actually isnt that far away considering the fact I am from Indiana) in order to find a spot to transport our scaffold to. There actually is a perfect location to shoot this particular scene right across to street from the place where the gallows is currently being stored. Unfortunately the owners have not contacted us back like they said they would.

I am so ridiculously nervous about our shoot tomorrow. Im shaking. The scene we are shooting involves the gigantic gallows we built, and through much searching we found a location to shoot the scene. The last time I went to the location was a few months ago, so I am hoping it is the same as I remember it. (sounds like a small deal, but it seems huge for me) Also we have communicated to the neighbors what we are doing, but Im still afraid that someone will drive by and see the gigantic gallows and assume the worst. There are so many things to be nervous about. Im going to be having trouble sleeping tonight.

Ugh, yeah, I hate the night before a shoot. Try to get to sleep in time to get about four or five hours in before wake-up time Good luck.

The shoot went great! (except for one small incident: I was demonstrating to an actor how I wanted him to backhand another actor. After I explained it to him, I let him try it on me. He was supposed to make it look like he was hitting me with a lot of force, but only brush my face. Instead, he misjudged the distance and hit me with full contact and perfect follow through. I think I still have a red mark).

In a tough decision I decided to shoot a certain scene instead of working on editing. It was a tough decision because my editor and cameraman are travelling to Maldova (thats in Europe, by the way) within the next few days and will not return for a few weeks. We have just a few miscellaneous shots that dont involve actors left. Now onward towards editing!

this sounds interestingly cool, brain. I look forward to seeing it. are you still thinking of posting some frames?

Im uploading all the video onto my personalcomputer right now so I can show some frames to you. (The editing machine doesnt have internet access so that spyware and other various bugs wont get into the system and slow it down)