The Park: Extras

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Extras

For those of you who came to the Starbucks meeting, it was great to meet all of you. There were about three separate sessions of meetings that went on. Emma Lisa took copious notes on the meeting and has greatly reduced the amount of work I need to do as far as writing and repeating. I took her notes and added a few things here and there. Here are the main points that she took down that I suggest everyone go over. Of course, most of this will be repeated on set on Sunday. I ask that everyone check their e-mail leading up to the shoot to hear for any possible changes. 12:30-3:30 seems to be a locked time, but should the time be reduced or pushed a little later, we would want all of you to know.

If everyone could also e-mail me back with a subject e-mail that says, “EXTRAS Merwin # (in your party)” in the e-mail put your names and contact information.

Remember, if you have any questions, please feel free to let me know as well.

The movie is to be shot at Merwin Meadows on Sunday the 29th of March - next week. The time for the "EXTRAS" to be shot (that's us)...is 12:30-3:30.

Some important things.

1. This cannot be a 'drop in' scenario - as live shooting will be going on. Merwin Meadows will be shut down for this filming with only those in the movie allowed into the park. Everyone in the movie will need to go through a processing desk so they know everyone on set. There is a release form that has to be signed.

2. There will be REAL actors there - we/the kids are playing in the background, within the playground and grounds as the filming of the main characters is going on. These professional actors and the crew will be WORKING.

3. Please bring your kids well fed so they will not get distracted by being hungry and I would suggest bringing water/juice and a few snacks.

4. There will be a porta jon - so ok with bathroom needs

5. They should dress in play clothes - jeans, pants, skirts - but nothing made of material that makes noise i.e. those nylon sports pants that swish when the kids walk.

6. We are encouraged to bring along picnic baskets, coolers or blankets - so it seems more natural as a day in the park.

7. Production Assistants (high school and college students) will also be there to help the kids with whatever they might need

Some rules to discuss with the kids before hand:

* The kids will be playing naturally as they would whenever in the park - but will be doing so silently/speaking softly... while the cameras are rolling. Otherwise all screaming will drown out the main actors voices. So you can tell them that when Jill yells ACTION, it will mean silent playing. Jill will go over these instructions again on set.

* The kids need to follow directions - pretty simple - ACTION and CUT...After CUT, is when if they need something i.e. to go to the bathroom - they should let someone know they need to do that. ACTON is when the movie is being filmed and they need NOT to cut out to get a drink or go to the restroom - there will be lots of breaks for them to do so.

* It is critical that the kids do not look at the camera while filming is going on - as that is not real life. Jill explained to me of the cost of the filming. This is NOT digital equipment - so it is all film. If problems arise - they need to start over and re-shoot, all money out of the films budget. So this should be spoken about with the kids AT LENGTH before hand. (Jill jested that every kids will owe $10 every time they look at the camera during filming).

* Kids should not be chewing gum

Remember - you can go on this blog and look it over for more information about the movie.

http://www.theparkfilm.blogspot.com.

Lastly, just so that you're aware, there will be a donation jar there. The insurance of renting the equipment alone is a killer - and while you are under NO obligation what so ever - if you would like to make a small donation, it would help defray the cost of making the movie. Budget is close to $4200, and while that seems like a small amount, to a third year film student - it's a serious sum of money. Even a $5 donation pays for a set of batteries in the sound department...and is greatly appreciated.

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The Park

A stroke of luck hits Nick, a homeless man when he finds a ten-dollar bill on the ground at the park. His newfound fortune is short-lived when he finds himself with the obligation of taking care of Annabelle, a young girl forgotten in the park by her reckless parents. During their time together, Nick depletes his finances caring for Annabelle. It becomes increasingly evident that the relationship between the two is not simply based on obligation or responsibility, but a deep emotional connection related to each one's own sense of abandonment. They lend each other a sense of companionship and courage for the lives they know away from one another.

click HERE for a Wilton-based prospectus

Jill Sapenoff (director, writer, co-producer)

Jill is currently a 3rd year Film and Television Production major at the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Jill has worked on more than 10 student and independent films since starting film school. She has worked as a production assistant on an upcoming Sam Mendes. Jill also worked as the assistant director and stage manager to the "Voices in Conflict" production, which played at The Public Theatre in New York, The Vineyard Theatre, and the Culture Project. Jill continued work on the production through its adaptation to television for CPTV and is credited as the Associate Producer of the televised production. Click HERE for CV.

Mike Wright (co-producer)

Michael Wright is a 3rd year Film and Television Production major at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. He has been involved in several student and independent productions, and has held the role of producer on several short films, documentaries, and a music video, both international and domestic. His most recent production role is Line Producer on "A Refugee," an award-winning 16mm color film about the Muslim/Hindu riots in Bangladesh in 2001. Michael is excited to be working with director Jill Sapenoff on "The Park", which reflects her talents as director and screenwriter. Click HERE for Michael's film, "Unfamiliar Faces."

Owen Levelle (cinematographer)

Mallory Westfall (art director, script supervisor)

Mallory is currently a junior majoring in Film and Television at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She has had experience in student productions ranging from screenwriting to directing to camera work. She has also worked for an independent television company working on factual programming for the A&E Biography Channel. Recently she took part in a training and internship program with the BBC in London. She is very excited to be working with Jill as both an art director and script supervisor.

Nick Mann (assistant director)

Nick Mann is in his third year studying film production at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He recently came back from a semester abroad in Dublin where he focused on screenwriting and traveling for a semester. Immediately prior he attended a summer program in Prague where he wrote, directed, and edited an a short film on 35 mm. The short film that he collaborated on for Apple's Insomnia Film Festival in 2007 came in 3rd place of over 1900 submissions. While Nick serves as an assistant director and 2nd asstant camera on student sets, his true passion is directing his own scripts.