Janelle,

    I spent some time getting my thoughts together about the shoot. There is
no malice towards you despite the criticism. I am available and willing to
talk to you at any time abut this letter. Please do not be afraid to do so.
As I value your reactions and opinions. Positive and negative. Apologies or
defense is NOT required. What happened happened. You can choose to move
forward armed with what you have learned, or not. The only thing you need to
do is let people know what will be happening with the pickups. Focus on the
improvements that you will make from here on in. It's not good to dwell on
the mistakes and " Could Have done " Response should be along the lines of "
Here is how we will be improving. "

Eamons Road

    I wanted to address some of the issues and constructive critiques about what
happened last weekend.

    Now the objective was to shoot a 90 minute film in four days. An achievable
goal, but not if we were setting up every shot in 45 to 90 minute intervals.
Now I am certain that people will blame this on the lighting. I was unable
to commit the time required to be present for the duration of all the shoot
dates. I DID put in my time, and despite what others may say. I did attempt
to move things right along to get the shots done.

I had been asked why shot prep took so long. My textbook answer is this.

    Each shot of a " Hollywood " movie can take 10 minutes to an hour to set up.
" Hollywood " movies also have a large budget and generally months to shoot
a production.

    Eamons road did not have a large budget. We had four days to shoot the film.
Even with a big budget. Shooting within that time frame was impractical.

    To make the movie in that time could have been accomplished by setting the
actors up per scene and shooting handheld around them twice per scene.
Preferably with more than one camera.

    Then you would have had a more amateurish look, but you would have had it
done.

    Some things just did not happen. Housing for example. When I was brought
onboard. I was told by you that we would have a room in the house. There
were way too many people to cram into those rooms. I would have been
prepared to stay the entire weekend if that would have been arranged. What I
saw was first come first serve. Which was fine, but it certainly did not
entice me to stay the night.

    Heat... You told me that the barn would be heated. It was not. I asked you
about this during the fall. You assured me that all would be taken care of.
That you guys were renting or buying an industrial space heater. I
understand that you were told the day of shooting that you would not be able
to put it in the barn, but this was something you should have cleared a
month ago. When you could have done something about it.

    There were plenty of preparations that could have been done to keep the
actors and crew close at hand. Rather than fleeing to the house to avoid
frostbite. For example. You could have had a vary large tent or even a large
cardboard box with a heater in it in the yard. At the very least the breeze
way should have been heated so people could get to and from the barn at a
moments notice. With it being that cold. Scenes had to be prepared
beforehand. Instead of the 45 minute prep while people stood around
freezing. Even the house was cold.

    The next bit that I have to comment about is the camera. I am certain
shooting in 24p is nice and better accepted by the distributors, but you
spent way to much for it. With the money you spent on that camera rental.
You could have " HIRED " three camera people at $100 - $150 a day. Each of
them would have brought equipment that they owned. I personally know 5 to 10
people who would work at that day rate. Each of them own Mini DV cameras and
lighting units.

    You may have even gotten people at that rate who own a 24 p camera.

    You could have had two cameras shooting dialogue scenes and a " Second Unit
Cameraman " shooting effects all at the same time. You may have been able to
get everything done in two days if scheduled and shot in this fashion. On
top of which. You would have saved so much money and stress.

    The over exposed scene looked good on the monitor. If Chris says it's
outside of the standard. Then he is most likely right. However that does not
mean that you can not use the material. As a director. If you like the look
of the footage. Then you can use it. Watch the movie " Highlander "
Everything was sooo dark at the end that you could not even see the main
characters, but it was released, and it made a TON of money. Breaking rules
and limits are fine if it allows you to tell the story. The only thing I
would have been concerned with was visual continuity. Where you get a sense
of different locations during the talk scenes. If the footage matches. Then
you can use it.

    If it's too bright for you. Then you can filter the footage to NTSC
standards. I have a filter on my editor that does it. It WILL turn the dark
range to black, but as long as you get the look you want. It's fine. Chris
is obviously a pro. He did all the prep he should have done, but he was
taking way too much time. He was shooting within " Hollywood " standards. If
he can't adapt. Then it won't get done.

    Special effects - I really liked the special effects, but there were ways
that all of the prep work could have been done more effectively and before
camera even had to set up. The Jena scene could have been prepped for $50
dollars more and prepared so all she had to do was come our to the location
and " Slip " into the effect. That way the effect could have been prepped
before actor or camera was even needed.

    Sound was always ready. So I had no issue with it.

    Production.... Ok here is where a lot of the problem was. There was no
production board. No backup plan. No shot list. If you plan on getting Five
pages shot in an hour. You have to show that on paper to be possible.
Someone has to be able to tell everyone else what is going on.

    I'm sorry to have to say this so bluntly, but you are a " TALENT " director.
Not a movie director. You need someone who can tell people what to do and
get things going. We did that in the barn. I took over and we got the scene
shot. Despite what Chris may have to say about the footage. I was acting as
your AD during that segment. The scene was lit and shot quickly.

    He can bluster about the rules all he wants, but unless he lets us know
before tape rolls. Then we only have the production monitor to tell us what
looks good. We both saw it and liked it and shot it. Going back and shooting
it again to the Chris standard afterwards. Is insulting to the both of us.
It tells me that you did not back up the decisions that we made together and
gives Chris more power on the set than you do. The DP is important, but only
if he works in conjunction with the director. Not when he overrules the
director. Again that is why communication between departments are so
important. " Terry " was a great guy, but he told me this was his first time
acting as a line producer. He and so many people like him. Were new at the
job. You obviously can't train them on set. So you can't expect them to act
the roles that they were given. That means you can't " Depend " on them out
of faith.

    I admire your ability to believe in all people, but you will have to learn
to make decisions about people from experience. Now you told me that you
have done films before this, but the organization of our last shoot shows me
otherwise. I think you are talented and have a lot of get up and go, but you
need to be able to tell people what to do.

    As for the pickups. You have added an additional four days to shoot the rest
of your movie. Your first job is to get the footage we shot to the editor.
So he can tell us what works and what we are missing. From there you can
compose a shot list. You can look at what was accomplished and what you like
and don't like. Only from there can you continue to plan the rest of your
movie. Only from there can you be certain of how much time you will need to
finish.

    Now again. I DON'T know everything, but I AM experienced with productions of
 all sorts. Specializing in Indie films. Horror / fantasy / Drama. Ask David
Whitten what he would do. He produced a very big film that received
distribution. Ask John what he thinks. He obviously knows about business and
product development. He believes in you and he's a bright guy.


    As for me. I must say that if you dismiss what I have said in regards to all
of this. I will expect to be relieved of duty on this production. I can not
in good faith to you do my job well if the project continues as it is
currently structured. If you do intend to enact the improvements I have
suggested. I would be more than happy to come back to the project in
whatever position you deem fit.

    Part of the reason I have spent so much time composing this letter to you. I
urge you not to let people ( Myself included ) steamroller you into
production that will tax your budget and your sanity.

Again I wish you and this production nothing but success.

Kevin Nicholson