Cryptid Shooting Diary
Tuesday July, 8
Day 1
First day of shooting. Actors Frank Palangi, Spunky
and cinematographer Jay Ruzicka arrive at my (very hot) apartment.
We shoot from about 5:30pm until 11:30pm. I want to thank Frank,
Spunky and Jay for bearing the heat. The two fans I have were
somewhat of a relief but I was still sweating like an oinker.
We filmed most of Frank's and all of Spunky's scenes. Just a few
pick up shots of Frank are needed. Jay shot the master shots with
his Panasonic DVX 100B miniDV camera. It has the best "faux
film" look I have ever seen in a miniDV camera. I can't wait
to see what it looks like on the big screen. He also filmed the
"monster vision" shots with a small camcorder I have.
The monster puppet that was used looked pretty good... considering
its amateurish look.
Sunday December 7, 2008
Day 2.... 5 Months Later
The second day of shooting the monster short concluded.
On set were Michael (a darn good actor) Cannon as Dr. Nonac, the
mad scientist; Aaron Lambert who played Billy, the unfortunate
lab assistant, and Kyle Murphy, crew person and eclipse maker.
Shooting started at around 2:30pm after everyone arrived
at my place. Michael was very good, and enthusiastic, as always
in his mad scientist role and Aaron was a good sport weathering
the cold in my car as he met his demise.
Kyle was great and ever willing to what I needed him
to do in the mid December cold of the North Country. Everything
from shaking the creature's box to putting up black bags around
my car to block out the sun to using his own body to make an eclipse.
Wednesday December 10, 2008
Day 3
I shot several minutes of the monster's point of view
with my small consumer camcorder. I first tried lashing the camera
to the underside of a boad and then tied the board to the hood
of a remote control car and then drove the car around but, for
several reasons, this was not successful. The string I used to
tie the camera to the car interfered with the tires moving and
turning and the car's battery died due to the cold. I needed to
beat an oncoming snow and ice storm that night so I finally just
walked along holding the camera inches above the ground.
Wednesday December 17, 2008
Editing has continued... finally.
Wednesday December 31, 2008
The title of the "monster movie" has been
given the official title of: CRYPTID.
Saturday May 30, 2009
The first segment of CRYPTID premieres online.
August 22, 2009
Did some location scouting for a jail cell at the historic
courthouse in Lake George.
August 28, 2009
Received a photo from special effects artist, Jared
Balog, of the creature molded in clay. It looks VERY nice and
creepy.
Tuesday September 22, 2009
Went to Prospect Mtn and filmed several shots, guerilla
style, of Frank Palangi walking through the forest. We also filmed
one very nice shot of him looking out over Lake George. It was
a beautiful panaoramic shot.
March 2010
Conversing with SFX artist Jared Balog about finishing
up the new Cryptid puppet. After viewing several photos and making
suggestions for changes it looks like it will be cast soon.
Tuesday May 4, 2010
After almost a year, got a call from Jared Balog saying
the creature should be finally finished by the end of the week.
Saturday August 14, 2010
Shot the scene between the conspiracy theorist (Kyle
Murphy) and clones (Mark Pezzula).
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