Orinoco Dec Blog 2014 Take Two “Imagine if you could use Protools in every day life?”
Hello again. I’m back.
Yes I know, your right.
Your name isn’t Again and my name isn’t Back.(such a dad joke, sorry.)
Now for the next instalment of DECEMBER 2014 BLOG episode two, THE FILM CLIP.
Well we have done it, we actually finished filming the factory scene for Mr Ginger Bread Man, and it only took about 6 hours and about 3 months planning.
Now with that news I might even dance a jig. Uhmm, actually no I won’t because I still haven’t learnt to dance since my last blog.
So I might as well give you the run down on how the “Factory scene” unfolded.
WARNING: This blog is longer than usual.
Firstly, it started while I was still at work. Luckily I had good support from my friends and family who decided to ring me to ask what they should wear and what time etc. This saved a large amount of time.
My first casualty was my buddy Markie Allan, who had to pull out because his mum had a fall and broke her wrist and then the next day she fell again and smashed her kneecap. I hope you are recovery well Mrs Allan? Also to Keely Palmer who was very excited about coming but fell ill on the Friday, she is better now which is good now. Nothing like a trip to Bali to ease the flu.
I also got a message from Ben Croker “Mr Devil himself, Lucy Furr” who masquerades as the air conditioning factory owner. He said the weather is looking a bit nasty and it may rain which was bad because we had a few outside scenes to do. A
I brushed it off telling him well I have the Devil on my side as well as Jesus (played by my dad Garry McCormack), who kept saying he was playing God.
I said no, you are playing Jesus not God. But he said no I am God.
I realised at that moment how the Holy Trinity would have fought when Jesus ascended to heaven.
“Why do I have sit on the right side of you dad why can’t I have the big chair, I am God.”
“Well no you are Jesus, I am God”
“No, I am God, just like you are Jesus”
“No, I am not Jesus I am God”
I have a feeling this argument could have gone on forever. Thank goodness the Holy Spirit was talking it up with the Apostles down on earth, otherwise the debate would have got CRAZYYYYYY.
In the end Dad signed his name on the cast and crew angel wings as God.
Sorry got distracted again.
I arrived at the factory on 5th December 2014 with Zac McCormack (Beau’s son) who sings the last piece of Mr Ginger Bread Man and was chosen to play the boy (based on my cousin Jeremy Morgan who died of cancer and who the song was written for).
The factory was alive with kids and adults a like all dressed in either red, white or black.
I found Fiona Johnson who was chosen by Sean Hellend (Director) Ben and I to be the quasi makeup artist. What can I say, we chose well. She also brought along her two kids Ava and Finn, and Finn dragged his mate Camden Leferve.
Rob and Jodie Barkla again helped me out. This time in letting me use them and their kids Mia and Rylie. Even though Rylie decided he never wanted to be on film. So for his punishment Rob decided it was a good idea to sit him on a bag of “air-conditioning lagging”, which by personal experience is very, very itchy. Actually it wasn’t punishment it was just bad luck. So after a quick scene jumping off a truck Rob had to take Rylie home to scrub out the itch.
The Bingham family with matriach Kathleen had her young charges Charlton, Emily and James who were made up and ready to go. Kath looked in the mirror to try and find her good side. This was extenuated by the fact that Dave Plowman (the man who was determined to join the cast. Since Markie Allan couldn’t come he thought he would have one up on the mate), kept an eye on Kath saying no luv wrong side again.
Speaking of Dave he was really excited because I didn’t rope him in to be the “In house hairdresser”, because that is his trade. Instead I told him he can be dead which he was very happy with and then he enjoyed the night, playing dead, smoking, and drinking in front of complete strangers.
You know when someone has had a good time when they ring up the next day saying “Seriously dude what did I say to people.”
Lets continue with enjoyment. As onlookers we loved watching Nathan Morgan (Jeremy’s brother) as the important dead business man. He, like Beau and I are from Italian heritage and as the joke goes,
“How do you stop an Italian from talking. You cut their hands off”
Nathan had his hands flailing around like a Chicago gangster in the prohibition era, he was a great choice, a finance guy who maybe missed his calling.
While Nathan was being angry, Kelly-Ann Culling was behind the front desk playing a bored receptionist, while her husband Glenn and daughter Pyper dressed in their attire watched on. Glenn mentioned that it was good idea giving Kelly a book to read because it reminded him of home life. Son Cooper joined them on Sunday and looked a sight in his angel get up.
The one person I have not forgotten is Lydia B, who has decided that she has no surname because it is so much cooler now that she is a film clip star. She moved from an angel to the dead and pretty much didn’t care what she did which made life very comfortable for everyone. Of course I am not mentioning anything about being a lawyer, (bugger I just did). At least I had an Italian joke instead one about a lawyer.
All involved on the Friday night were amazing, Ben got dressed in his pink devil outfit, the rain stayed away enough for us to film, and cameramen Sebastian Dawson and Tim Sexton who came and helped Sean were brilliant. (You have to remember these guys only got paid a box of chocolates. Sorry Tim Sean took yours)
So by about 11pm we finished the last shot and got ready for the 7th Dec Sunday day shot, which started at about 10pm.
This time Nathan brought his kids Fischer and Rosa, and straight away I decided that they should be two security guards at the Grim Reaper induction and check in desk. Rosa scored her first ever goal in a soccer match on the Friday night Nathan was playing Suit Man so he missed her goal. (Well done Rosa, GOOAAAAALLLL).
I decided that the film clip needed a Grim Reaper so I picked Jordie (my wife), who thought it was a good idea to scare the kids trying out the costume. (It was funny trust me) and my son (Mitchell), to play Grim and baby Grim. I asked Pippa my 3 year old if she would like to play Kid Grim but she said no, which was exactly what she said when I asked if she wanted to play a nurse.
So you know what they say,
“Never argue with a madman or a 3 year old.”
So when you see a little girl in pink, that is Pippa.
And Pippa if you read this years down the track, you were not a nurse or a Kid Grim because you said no, not because you are the middle child.
So I needed a Kid Grim, so I asked Mia Barkla and I sold it perfectly it too her. Why would you not want to play the “Angel of Death”.
“Uhmm not sure maybe because you want me to play the Angel of Death.”
So Ava Johnson jumped in and dressed herself in black and was brilliant in her little role.
There was also the morgue scene (in the factory paint room) which was where Pippa was meant to be a nurse to the two doctors, Amber McCormack (Beau’s daughter) and Tayla (mine). So I tried again with Pip putting on the outfit but, NNOOOOOO was the answer.
Luckily Amber brought her BFF Olivia Muir who was very happy to get dressed up. Somehow she fitted into the uniform.There were three very excited girls who executed their roles with precision of children playing “DOCTORS”.
Another someone who popped up was a guy named Dean Wilkin, a friend of Sean’s, who OWED him a favour.
You see Dean wants to be in politics and he was paying off a debt. Sounds like he is in good training already (lets call him Dodgy Dean instead of Slippery Pete, sorry Dean just a joke), so where is the best place put a politician, on the DOA list of course. All seriousness thanks Dean we really appreciate that you used the favour on the film clip.
We lost Tim on Sunday and was replaced by Tiarna Pepall, who basically became “The Film Clip Roadie”. She also crammed the last minute exam study in, so thanks for ruining your study timetable for us.
Of course I need to mention the Hart boys.
Damien who played a fantastic job as the magician, he is actually Kathleen’s brother. I told him that Dean was in politics and not to talk too him about it because well the views may have been a touch different. When I say different, I mean opposing characters in movies like, Kill Bill, Thor, Mad Max and all those other political charged movies.
The other Hart is Jackson who besides Zac played the main role. He doesn’t say much, which is great because the clip didm’t need any talking. He worked very hard especially on the Sunday when it was warm and he was nearly in all the scenes. He is a very talented actor.
The last two people I have to thank is Sean Hellend, who directed and at the moment is editing. For a young guy he is very organised, understands what he is doing and loves the technical side. Both he and I are hoping use this film clip as a launching pad to get noticed. So if you need anyone in filming or editing game please contact him. His business is called Black Cut Film and his email is BlackCutProductions@gmail.com. So if you need him flick him a note.
Also thanks to Ben Croker who allowed us to use his factory which in these safety conscious days is a huge OH&S issue having kids and strangers on a manufacturing premises. He was also brilliant as Lucy Furr the gay, devil from hell.
So here is the list of people and what they played.
DOA: Dead on Arrivals
The Culling Crew
Pyper: DOA/Child in Heaven
Kelly: Main Receptionist Angel/DOA
Glenn: DOA
Cooper: Angel/DOA
The Bingham Crew
Kathleen: Angel
Emily: Child in Heaven
James: Child in Heaven
Charlton: DOA
The Hart Crew
Damien: The Magician
Jackson: Bob
The Johnson/Leferve Crew
Fiona: Makeup artist/DOA
Ava: Kid Grim/Child in Heaven
Finn: DOA
Camden Leferve: DOA
Barkla Crew
Jody: Angel/DOA
Rob: DOA
Mia: Child in Heaven
Riley: Well he was just itchy
Morgan Crew:
Nathan: Man in Suit/Angel
Fischer: Security
Rosa: Security
The Crew without a Crew
Ben Croker: Lucy Furr/Makeup Artist
Dave Plowman: DOA
Dean Wilkin: DOA
Lydia B: Angel/DOA
McCormack/Muir Crew:
Amber: Doctor/Child in Heaven
Garry: God (Okay he is not Jesus)
Jordie: Grim Reaper
Mitchell: Baby Grim
Olivia: Nurse
Pippa: Child in Heaven (whatever she wanted to do or be)
Tayla: Doctor/Child in Heaven
Zac: The Boy
THE ACTUAL CREW
Sean Hellend: Director/Editor
Sebastian Dawson: Camera
Tiarna Pepall: Gopher/Roadie
Tim Sexton: Camera
I will let you know when the clip is ready for viewing.
Stay Safe