Intro
When last I sent my keystrokes to you through the ether, I was closing the Georgia Renaissance Festival just southwest of Atlanta. Since then, I’ve driven 1200 miles to the Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota area, hung out for a week—saying hello to friends and, once again, working with Soft Drink Productions for this year’s 48 Hour Film Project before flying out to the Phoenix, Arizona area and Heather’s happy home.
My Minnesota Peeps
Heather & I have not done much more than a little shopping and hang out at her home in Mesa, Arizona, but it has been glorious nonetheless. I’ve got just a week before traveling westward to reach the Far East, Thailand, and Tao Garden. You’ll hear & see all about that in my next journal, so stay tuned.
Meanwhile, I’m going to enjoy spending time with H2 (as Jef & wife, Sharon, have dubbed Heather) and enjoy the record-breaking cool Arizona weather.
It’s been a little while—the bellydance class has left, and Heather’s straightening up before locking up and we head home. Actually, she’s attempting handstands on the dance floor. I wish you could see it, too. But, alas, I left my camera at home. Suffice to say, it’s funny and sexy all at the same time. I’m one lucky Tortuga.
48HFP
A Happy Soldier welcomes you to FutureSand
The 48 Hour Film Project is a wild and sleepless weekend in which you and a team make a movie—write, shoot, edit and score it—in just 48 hours.
On Friday night, you get a character, a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre, all to include in your movie. 48 hours later, the movie must be complete. Then it will show at a local theater, usually in the next week.
The 48 Hour Film Project's mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers. Through its festival/competition, the Project encourages filmmakers and would-be filmmakers to get out there and make movies. The tight deadline of 48 hours puts the focus squarely on the filmmakers—emphasizing creativity and teamwork skills. While the time limit places an unusual restriction on the filmmakers, it is also liberating by putting an emphasis on "doing" instead of "talking."
For the second year in a row, I’ve worked with Soft Drink Productions on their film short submission to the 48 Hour Film Project. Soft Drink Productions’ producer,Jason Almendinger, & writer/director, Thomas Kingsley Troup, enjoyed my performance enough last year enough to invite me back for another stab at 15 minutes of fame and absolutely no fortune—but, a whole helluva lotta fun! Of course I said yes!
This year’s short is called FutureSand—an apocalyptic “buddy film.” For whatever reason, the world is covered in sand, and five survivors break into an abandoned theater in search of refuge and salvation. What they find are sandworshipers, a nuclear sandwich . . . and madness.
It was a blast to shoot! I even got the chance to work with actor/writer/wrestler Bill Borea and fight director Michael Anderson. I have a very surreal Seven Degrees of Separation with these gentlemen. I won’t bore you with the details here, but maybe if you ask me in person. . . .
Bill and I had a fight scene that went very well thanks to Michael’s direction. It was frickin’ cool, yet painful. If you ever get the opportunity to throw yourself against a human brick wall, pass. It’s not as fun as it looks in the movies. I bore the bruises of honor for more than a week to prove it.
Thomas Kingsley Troupe & Jason Almendinger bang out the Script
Rockin' the Green Screen!
Joel Allard also performes at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival
DP Brian Garnell & TKT review an important scene
So many words!
TKT goes over the Fight Scene with Bill Borea and I
Katie Willer's Last Stand
Michael Anderson Choreographs the Fight Scene
Let's dance, you Ninja Bitches… No, wait—that was last year.
Katherine Kupiecki & Joel Allard wait for their Moment
Outro
It’s now the Tuesday after Father’s day. One week after FutureSand made its debut at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis. We’ll find out sometime today whether we made it into the 48HFP-Minneapolis Best Of showing or not. Keepin’ my fingers crossed.
With three days to go before I fly out to Thailand, Heather & I are rushing around seeing friends and family, and taking care of our sick bodies. That’s right, we’ve both caught this nasty cold thingy goin’ ‘round. Not pleasant, but it’s given me the opportunity to sharpen my Nightingale skills. Heather is thankful, and I make brownie points playing the good boyfriend.
Happy Co-Hostess Heather
This job blows!
Rock Lobster!
Well, Tortugaholics, that wraps up another journal for yours truly. Hope you’re having a faboo summer. Remember, life is happening out there. If you’re bored, you’re boring. Tear yourself away from the computer once and a while and do something that excites you. (Sounds like a plan—I think I’ll go try it.) Ciao for now. Live—Laugh—Love!
Hot Update!!
From Thomas Kingsley Troupe’s Facebook Page:
FutureSand was nominated for lots of stuff: Best Ensemble Cast, Best Editing, Best Sound Design, Best Theme Song, Best Costume Design, and Best Use of Line. We ended up winning Best Costume Design. Cool to be nominated and to finish in the top 15 (of 90 or so)! Thanks to everyone who worked on it and watched it. We had a blast!!!
**The preceding was a paraphrased quote from TKT and his wife, Laura Zimmerman Troupe.**
Look, Ma! I'm a Badass!
