More "Ronni" Pick-up Shots

It's been well over a month now since we finished up several commercial projects that had been on our plate. As a result, we've taken advantage of this window of opportunity to ramp up the edit of No Sleep for Ronni. In addition, we've been checking off the remaining pick-up shots that are still needed.

Earlier this evening evening, we filmed in the basement of camera operator Jeff Modjeska, knocking off two different pick-up segments. The first was a scene featuring Jeff Blankenship as a research surgeon conducting an experiment on his test subject, DW Wanberg. Actor Chris Weis played a security guard while Jeff Modjeska doubled as another research doctor.

Additional scenes were filmed on green screen and involved Chris doing security guard things. Fun stuff!

While the edit of the movie has come a long way, it's a complicated project, the most intricate one we've ever worked on. Loads of keying, compositing, masking, and more. So unfortunately, we still have quite a ways to go before it's finished.

"Strindberg's Assistant" Retooled and Reloaded!

It was in the summer of 2011 that production first began on our long-suffering project, Strindberg's Assistant. Over the eight years that followed, the story grew and changed. More scenes were shot, additional actors recruited, and new locations secured.

And yet, we still didn't have a finished film. It just never felt right... until now. Revelations (that came to us last night!) have breathed new life into this supernatural period piece, helping us to finally discover what the hold-up really was. The format was wrong.

Strindberg's Assistant is not a movie. It's a series.

We're going to divide up the script into multiple episodes (probably seven in all). A few additional actors, scenes, and pickup shots will be needed. Filming will occur sometime in the coming year.

Although things have rarely gone according to plan with this project, our goal is to release as a web series in 2020. Fingers crossed.


The late Colin Cameron as August Strindberg in the summer of 2011, filming a scene in Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IVY SURYANA

Original trailer released  October 14, 2013. (An updated version will be issued sometime in 2020.)

Fun Continuity Surprises

In the "kitchen" scene from No Sleep for Ronni, our two antagonists, Ms. Slovak (Portia Adney) and Dr. Bly (Tim Towne), converse via a video chat. During the editing process, we discovered a minor continuity error; it will hardy be noticed. So for the fun of it, we thought we'd point it out for those who read this post.

Throughout the scene, a cutting board can be seen in the background on the countertop. However, nothing else is supposed to be on top of the cutting board.

Yet in one shot, we can see a book that a crew member forgot to remove from the hot set. Oops.

"Social Media Breakfast" Documentary Completed!

For nearly two months, Robert has been working on a gig with Jeff Modjeska, a short film celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the non-profit group, Social Media Breakfast Madison. The project required two big event shoots, 12 individual interviews, numerous b-roll pickup shots, and lots of digging through historical photos and videos.

After many hours at the computer, Robert finally finished the edit today! Jeff will deliver the final video file to the client and--knock on wood--we'll be done with this one.

UPDATE: You can now view the video on the SMBmad facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/smbmad/videos/473909926534766/

Governor's Mansion Remodel Series Finished!

Over the last 11 months, Robert has been working (on and off) filming and editing the restoration and remodel of the old Governor's Mansion in Madison. The last of the three This-Old-House-style episodes was shot in July. And Robert finally finished the edit this past week.

Today, owners Bob Klebba and David Waugh are holding an open house to show off their newly-completed hotel.  Because of the historic nature of this property, they will be furnishing the videos to the Wisconsin Historical Society to be added to their archives.

Episodes 1-3...