First Pictures!
Here are the first pictures from the production in LA. This is only a small part of the wonderful scenes we managed to shoot. More to follow.
Update, November 18:
Because I was flying back home all day yesterday, I wasn’t able to actually add anything to my post to describe the shoot. Here’s a little bit now.
On our the first day (Sat Nov 14), we filmed exterior shots in Waterman Canyon in the San Gabriel mountains just north of LA. It was a lovely spot, just perfect for replicating Thuringia in St. Elizabeth’s time. The leaves in CA evidently don’t turn in November, so it seemed almost like summer, which was when St. Elizabeth’s farewell with her husband actually took place. This in particular was the scene I had always dreamed about filming, and it turned out beautifully. The student actors from Azusa Pacific University did a splendid job, we had a great cinematographer (Michael), and the most beautiful location possible. Only the costumes were a little problematic, due to lack of budget and time. We had to make do with costumes borrowed from the Theater Department at APU, and some we rented from a local costume shop. We had to take what we could get, whether ideal or not.
We didn’t have to pay anything for this location, as it was a state park — at least no one showed up to object :). It was a bit different on Sunday. Michael and I had spent all day long Friday looking for an interior location without success (and he had spent a week previously looking). They all wanted insurance, which was too expensive for us, plus mucho $$$ for filming. Finally, on Saturday night, Hollywood Presbyterian Church (the founding church of Act One) agreed to let us do it for $500.00 plus insurance. We still had no insurance. But Michael got a cinematographer friend of his, Brad, who is quite experienced and has insurance, to come and be second cameraman on the shoot; we presented the church with his insurance certificate and paid him as well (still less expensive than purchasing insurance, which we might not have been able to get at the last minute anyway). Whew!
This second day went great too, but they only allowed us to have the place for 3 hours, which meant we couldn’t shot some things we had planned. But the lighting job Michael and Brad did was stupendous, and the second camera was helpful in moving things along faster. My brother Pat (with whom I was staying in Hermosa Beach) and his girlfriend Vera, had roles. Members of Michael’s family came along and filled in as extras in the church scene where Elizabeth lays down her crown. This was a grueling day, but well worth it.
More later.
Update: November 26, Thanksgiving Day, I’ve had quite a week catching up with work. Only now am I able to put up some more images and correct the ones I had already done.
