CONFINEMENT PRODUCTION

Below is an account of what we went through in making the motion picture CONFINEMENT.

March 11, 2003

The screenplay for CONFINEMENT is complete.  After I finished the 6th draft of it, I sent it to Eric Thornett and the fun began.  Together with Eric and a few others we cleaned and sculpted it over and over until we were satisfied.   Thank you everyone involved behind the scenes with your input and assistance with this phase of the project.

March 15, 2003

Eric Thornett graced me with a visit so that I could create many of the visual effects for his movie SHOCKHEADED.  I will have spent a total of 80-90 hours working on his effects.  I imagine that I won't even get credit for most of them.  (That's what longtime friends are for.)

So what does this have to do with CONFINEMENT production?  Plenty, we scouted locations for the final climactic battle between Thornett and myself.  It will take place atop a great mountain. 

March 15 - June 3, 2003

Casting for CONFINEMENT.

I met a ton of new people during this time period.  Thank you to everyone who was involved.  Sorry for any toes I stepped on!  Casting this movie has been the hardest movie experience to date.  Needless to say I am very excited to have such a good cast to work with.  Aside from a few extras the entire cast has been filled.  Woohoo!

May 31, 2003

Today we began shooting!  I met with Corey and James Wilburn from Lynchburg, VA.  We shot the opening sequence for the movie.  Really exciting stuff!  Just about all of the shots involved me walking by the camera.  Corey got to jump right in and do camera while her brother James did some stand in for me.
 

JUNE 1, 2003

I shot Scene 1 of the movie today.  It was easy.  Just me, the camera, and a tripod.  Scene 1 shows Peter getting home and doing his "nightly rituals" before going to bed.  For Scene 1 all of the sound will be done in POST. 

JUNE 13, 2003

Filming for this movie has been cursed!  Today is Friday the 13th of June and I have canceled filming for the second weekend in a row due to weather.  I have never seen it this bad.  The rain hasn't stopped!  99% of this movie takes place in the dry outdoors!

JUNE 21, 2003

Eric Thornett came down for filming this weekend.  Today we shot Scene 2 from the movie.  Scene 2 consists of Peter wandering around the woods.  It was a chance for cinematographer Thornett to get really artistic!  (There won't be any room for art later!)  If it all plays out as planned in the final version of this scene the audiences eyes will focus on the background more than Peter.

JUNE 22, 2003

Our first BIG day of filming!  Bette Cassatt (CHINA) and her pal Chris Mindel came down today.  Together we spent 2 hours going through Walmart and K-Mart looking for some "Action-Shoes" for Bette to wear.  Shopping sucks!  Especially when you need something right then and there.  Chances are you wont find it.

Finally after director David Lee Stewart started to cry and throw a fit Bette found a good pair of shoes to wear.  Then we all trucked off down to Buckingham County, VA.  (To the place where Return of the Cheyenne Kid was filmed.)  We met up with Mitch Toney and Robert Mason (HORSEMAN).  

Horseman scene...

We shot for eight hours strait!  This is the first action scene of the movie where a hunter dressed as a cowboy comes after China and Peter.  We got off a lot of great shots.  (Working with animals always takes much more time but if you get what you want, and are patient, it's great.)

Everyone involved did a great job today.  The pics that are now up look good.

JUNE 28, 2003

Today we attempted to finish the HORSEMAN scene.  I intended to spend about 4 hours shooting the rest of it.  We ended up taking most of the day.  Working with animals is tough!  Robert Mason did a great job and I thank him for his time.  I know when we finished up today, he went home and crashed on his couch.  

Today Peter got dragged behind both a horse and a 4-wheeler!  David Stewart needed extra padding for this stunt so he pulled out a pair of sweat pants and an extra t-shirt to wear under his costume.  The ground was rough as hell and David came out of it with some glorious bruises on his ribs.

JUNE 29, 2003

We shot part of Scene 19 today.  Mitch Toney, Walt Winfrey, and Eric Thornett joined in.  It was gonna be an easy shoot...

The plan was simple...Head down to a secluded waterfall in the middle of the National Forest.  (I had been going there for years to swim.)  

In all the years that I'd gone to this place I had never seen more than 5 other people there.  I had never seen any park rangers or county police.

On June 29th about 40-50 people overall came for swimming.  3 County Policemen in uniform stopped by and asked us to please put our 2 prop rifles away in our vehicles, and because of all of the above the 1-2 hour shoot lasted closer to 4-5.

Check out the latest Pics.

JULY 6, 2003

We rocked through scenes 4, 5, and 6 today.  Suzanne Ramsey came up for filming from the big city of Lynchburg, VA.  Daniel Stewart did his first cinematography today and he was great.  We spent ~5 hours from 8 a.m. till 1 p.m.  And when we finished we jumped into a nearby creek to cool off.  

Today was the first day of filming where everything went right!

Pics.

JULY 13, 2003

This weekend was botched because of an incident involving a "mini-pick ax" and my son Cameron.  We would have shot part of the cliff scenes in Northern Virginia/Maryland on Saturday.  Then we would have filmed the big "CHILDS" scene on Sunday.

Instead Daniel Stewart came down and we shot part of the "Tree stunt" and the "Digging for Steel" inserts.

Check out the Pics and you'll see Cameron in costume ready for his role as CHILDS.  You'll also get to see the tool he used to trim up his toe with.

JULY 19, 2003

Today we shot The Visitor Vs. Peter Part 1.  It's a nice bit of fighting and we spent the good part of the day shooting it.  Alvin Ecarma the world famous director known for LETHAL FORCE handled the filming.  With David Lee Stewart, Alvin Ecarma , and Eric Thornett working together we got through it quick and everything was perfect.

JULY 20, 2003

Childs Vs. China!  5 year old veteran actor Cameron David Stewart came aboard the project and went head to head with Bette Cassatt (China).  This days filming will come together in post production.  There are a ton of digital effects in what we shot.  Bette was a trooper and despite a couple cast-related setbacks we got a lot done today. 

JULY 27, 2003

We shot Scenes 20 and 29 today.  Cameron came back as Childs while Bette and Chris came down for the shoot.  We had two newcomers in town today as well.  John Johnson and his personal assistant Rebecca Taylor.  It was a funfilled day of shooting.  David got bloody and wet and John Johnson got killed, again (He got his toes chopped off in CONCEALMENT.)  

AUGUST 2-3, 2003

This weekend of filming was easily the most difficult shoot for everyone involved.  Demetrius Parker, Bette, Chris, Eric, Daniel Stewart, and I headed up into the mountains to a spot near the West Virginia border.  We carried a ton of supplies with us.  We hiked from the parking area up a creek to where the creek begins at the foot of a mountain.  There at the foot of the mountain is a hole.  A hole which when crawled through leads to an immense natural cave.  The cave goes on for miles. Inside this cave was our next filming location.

We all had to crawl inside the cave through freezing water.  We had to carry a ton of supplies through including a 80 pound battery (For lighting).  Once inside we changed into dry clothes and prepared for filming.  It was cold, dark, dirty, and slightly frightening for everyone involved.  Other than Daniel and I it was everyone else's first time experiencing something like this.  

Once in place we did all of the scenes involving the cave. Everybody did an excellent job.  Once we began we got through it all rather quickly.  We concentrated on all of the China scenes on Saturday and all of the Derek Scenes on Sunday.

During filming on Sunday there were several powerful thunderstorms.  Have you ever been inside a mountain while a thunderstorm is going on.  It's cool!  Everything shakes!  At first we thought it was a distant cave-in.  But after inspecting the entrance we knew it was a storm.  We kept watch on the entrance.  (Keeping an eye on the water level.)  And when we finished and finally got out of the cave the water level had risen a couple of inches.  I've thrown a ton of pics up.  Be sure to check 'em out.

And to everyone involved this weekend, Thanks!

AUGUST 10, 2003

We spent the day filming at the historic Manassas Battlefield park in northern Virginia.  Demetrius came out first and we shot another scene involving his character.  After last week this day was a breeze.  We did a total of four scenes and finished earlier than expected.  The later part of the day was spent filming scenes involving Peter and China.

AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 1, 2003

This entire weekend was bad for filming.  The rain ruined a lot of the planned shooting.  We were able to shoot part of scene 16 and 17 and a few various inserts of China shots.  We re-shot a scene were China and Peter are washed up in a creek and China helps Peter get some knives out of him.  We hiked to the top of a mountain 2 different times to try to get a scene filmed and had to turn around and come back down on both occasions due to the weather.  Finally we did a successful shoot on Monday for Eric Thornett's film Shockheaded.  Overall this weekend sucked!

SEPTEMBER 6, 2003

Today we continued where we left off previously with scenes 16 and 17.  17 was completed and 16 was not.  In the morning I met up with Suzanne Ramsey and her husband and we headed out to the Pedlar River.  Suzanne got to do some stunt work.  We had her falling down through the rapids and cliff diving into some really ice-cold water.  Good Job Suzanne!

SEPTEMBER 14, 2003

 RAIN!!! 

SEPTEMBER 20-21, 2003

ISABEL!!!

NOVEMBER, 2003

It's been a while since I have updated the production diary.  We have gotten through 90% of the filming on this movie.  We have to film a few more outside scenes and they have been postponed due to the trees changing.  So for now, filming is frozen.  We will be doing a few insert shots here and there and beginning post production.

MARCH 20, 21, and 27, 2004

March 2004!  That's right!  Check the beginning of the shooting diary!  This movie has been in production now for over a year!  That sucks!  All I can do is blame myself.  But forget that.  The weather has been the main cause for every delay imaginable.  The leaves fell from the trees and we put it all on hold. 

Well many thought that the movie was gonna be scrapped.  But on the 20, 21, and the 27th we proved them all wrong.  We shot all of the interior scenes!  We got to work with Dudley Sauve and Mica (The Low Budget Stuntman.)  

Dudley played a small part in Return of the Cheyenne Kid.  After we finished ROTCK Dudley and I kept in touch and I told him that he'd be perfect for the main bad guy in CONFINEMENT.  He agreed to do the part.  That was a year ago.  I caught up with him at the beginning of the month and we  planned the shoot from there.

This was Mica's first time acting since his horrible non-stunt related accident that paralyzed him from the chest down last year.  He is wheelchair bound of course and he did a great job despite feeling sick for most of the day. 

Demetrius Parker got to take off for good after this batch of filming because we finished filming for his character Derek.

Overall this was a great bit of filming simply because we were in a controlled environment the entire time.  And for once we got everything accomplished that we set out to do.  (Which was a lot!)

It was great to see everyone again and when they leaves return to the trees we're gonna wrap this thing!

Check out the Pics Page for a pile of new photo's!

APRIL 18, 2004

Today we revisited the infamous cave. Essence Anderson (From Concealment and 23 Hours.), Suzanne Ramsey, Diana Williams, and Gary accompanied David Stewart on the long trek out to the West Virginia border. 

We shot some walking inserts with Essence doubling for Demetrius. Suzanne ran the camera. Dianna and Gary ended up being Grips/Gophers) 

David showed all of these first timers how easy it was to get inside the cave. They all were too scared at first but then they realized that if Eric Thornett can do it, anyone can. 

As each of them came through the cave David suppressed his urge to laugh at the look of shear terror and pain on their faces. Gary ended up staying outside. The rest hear him say "Uhhh, I've got to go do...something." That was followed by the sound of footsteps scurrying away. 

Once inside more double shots with Essence were filmed as well as a "rope can trap scene." After finishing up we took a brief tour of part of the cave and headed out. 

Everyone did a great job helping out with the carrying of supplies and equipment under freezing, claustrophobic conditions. A big ole thanks goes out to them all. 

MAY 14, 2004

Last weekend I got together with John Johnson and we shot the "Creek Scene."  And more of the "Waterfall Scene."  J.J. ran the camera while David Stewart kept soaking himself.  

We rigged up the zipline again this weekend.  We got some really good 'epic' shots.  Check out the Pics page for the latest stills!

JUNE 12-13, 2004

We finished up with "Lead Gal" Bette Cassatt this weekend.  On Saturday after shooting some inserts and the road scene we shot (In Buckingham County) the first "Final Army" Scene.  This is where our two main characters meet up with some more people stuck in the gaming zone just like them.  Essence Anderson popped over from Richmond VA to play the role of the groups leader.  We saw Todd Vinsel (From Return of the Cheyenne Kid.) and Daniel Stewart. (He's doing the score.)  AND we meet two newcomers Roberto ... and Amber ... who did a great Job. 

That night we drove from Buckingham to Nelson County and shot until 3 a.m. at our "Fake Cave" Set.  Using my truck as a power generator we had portable lights setup and about 400 feet of extension cord.  We shot the Fake Cave scenes on a creek and it looks really good.  You can't tell the real from the fake.  On a side not our cast and crew learned all about the backwoods horror that is known at the HELGAMITE.  And when we were packing up and leaving we had a run-in with the largest beaver in the world.  Eric Thornett was almost killed.

We snuck back into my house trying not to wake my wife and kiddos.  We Failed!  Everyone slept late.

On Sunday it was off to the Mountaintop again.  Last year at this time we went up to the Mountaintop on 2 occasions to find that because of the weather it was unusable.  This year, this day would be different, right?  Wrong.  The mountaintop was covered in mist and fog.  So we had to move on to plan B and we shot China's Tied-To-A-Tree-Scene in a new location.

The location chosen was on the side of the mountaintop and it worked out well.

Finally it was Chris Mindel's turn in front of the camera.  Since last year he has played just about every role in making this movie.  He has doubled for everyone.  He has assisted with everything.  Now give him some lines, a costume, gadgets on a belt, a laser,  and a cool remote control and he is GRIFFON!

It felt good driving spears through his soft flesh take after take.  And seeing him reduced into a pile of blood soaked lumps in the end brought tears to my eyes.  Good job Griffon.  You stole the scene!

Following that we shot some inserts of Griffon doing some lines back at my house and then all sat down to play Harry Potter with my kids.

Bette Cassatt and Chris Mindel.  You two have been through a lot in the making of this picture by David Stewart Productions.  I'll even say it (Me Being David Lee Stewart.)  THIS movie has been the most difficult project for me to date.  You guys came down from NOVA a countless number of times.  All I can say is...

JULY 10-11, 2004

This was a very long weekend.  We shot through all the rest of Kimble's scenes and tackled the "Final Battle" scenes.  This was a huge obstacle to get past and we did it!.  There were many new faces out there this weekend and many of them came great distances to get there.  I thank each of them.  We also finished up Essence's scenes as well.  So he can relax now.  It was a lot of work but it looks great.  I've tossed a ton of pics up on the pic pages.  Suzanne Ramsey came and played yet another role.  (3 So Far.)  Amber Slovek let me torture her some more.  (Thanks Amber.)  And Robert Mason played his third role as well.  We are almost through the production of this film!

AUGUST 7-8, 2004

We got back together with Essence Anderson and reshot the brief fight between Peter and Tommy.  (Due to some "Hair length differences" we had to reshoot this.)  We finished up a few inserts of Kayla Mason.  

Also I decided that our lead character needed more to do for the Final Battle Scene.   The battle begins and Peter takes out one person then the battle continues.  Peter is missing until the battle is over.   -- That just aint enough for our lead to do.  We gathered up Michael Carrington, Matt Toney, and Kevin Toney and shot some more Battle footage.

This weekend was my most physically demanding one to date.  I was sore all over for 5 days after.

AUGUST 8-26, 2004

Last week I twisted my ankle on an un-CONFINEMENT related film shoot.  It is the worst sprain I have ever had.  That has screwed up a couple of weeks of filming.  As of now I have shot a few needed inserts.  All that is left to shoot is The Visitor Vs. Peter and then little inserts.  We're almost done!

SEPTEMBER, 2004

We've knocked out a lot.  The final mountaintop battle has been completed thanks to some kickin' filming from Suzanne Ramsey!  I've compiled a revised shot list of the last needed shots!  I have about 10 more sequences left to film.  (Easy stuff!).  I've finally gotten to do some nice pyrotechnic effects!  (I still have to torch a big tree too!)  And I've filled the pics pages with a ton of new exciting images.  Hooray!

NOVEMBER 11th, 2004

Shooting is complete with CONFINEMENT! 

I have been editing like mad and doing effects and will continue until the project is complete.  It has taken 19 months to film this flic and many more for pre/post production.  I have destroyed 2 camera’s making it.  And it has been a huge task for everyone involved due to the extreme locations and filming environments. 

For movie geeks out there, I have over 36 hours of footage to work with!  Trimming 36 down to about 2 is a huge task!  I have most of the picture edited together at this point so the bulk of the post production is complete. 

There are a few new pics up on the site:

http://www.davidstewartproductions.com/WbPgs/CONFINEMENT/morepics_cf.htm

Thanks to everyone involved!

-David

MARCH 16, 2005

The Rough Cut of the movie is complete.  It runs 1:50 minutes!  All that is left to do with it now is to finish tuning up the sound, finish the special effects, and finish the Soundtrack.

I am very pleased with the look, pacing, and style of the flic.