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RETURN OF THE CHEYENNE KID
PRODUCTION DIARY
5/4/02
Worked with Kayla and Tommy for the first time. They
play Tommy and Lizzy in the movie. It was nice to work with some kids
again. It has been a while. They both did a good job in their
roles. Tommy Flippen is a natural in front of the camera while Kayla Mason
is destined to be a stunt woman. I plan to make full use of her athletic
abilities in this one.
After Scene 4 with the kids we did part of Scene 8 with Scott Gerken
(Snake), Todd Vinsel (Toad), and Danny Absher (Fuzzy). They rode up to a
tavern on horseback. We did this one in the rain and it looks really
good. Danny Absher was worried about his lines and approached me before
shooting. I told him it would be fine since he didn't have any anyway.
5/5/02
Today was the big opening scene at the mine shaft. (We
built it just for this movie and it looks great.) Gene Palmer and his wife
Clair came down with their old buggy for the scene. (A special thanks to
them both for braving the trail to the shooting site and putting up with a long
day of filming.) We had them, Snake, Toad, and Fuzzy, as well as three
horses for the day. We made it through and no ones tempers had been
lost! Day 2 of filming is done. More next week!
5/11/02
Today John H. Powell (Wild Bill) and Bob Wallace (Cheyenne
Kid) came to town. I had seen John in another movie and Bob only from
pictures. (Darn good ones at that!) I was looking forward to working
with them from the beginning of the project. I arrived on location at 8:00
A.M. And everyone was getting suited up. We got out to the site for
the first scene and everyone mounted up. I couldn't believe my eyes.
There before me was WILD BILL and the CHEYENNE KID.
This day we concentrated on two major scenes. One on a trail in some
woods. The other outside a tavern. There were action shots and
comical shots. We worked till the sun went down and all went home tired.
5/12/02
The big end scene! We shot today with Tommy, Lizzy, Wild
Bill, Snake, Toad and Cheyenne. It was the final scene for the
movie. We spent about half the day filming a fight scene and the other
half doing dialogue. Scott Gerkin (Snake) had a fun day today. He
got punched in the face, thrown onto his head, flipped off his horse, and kissed
by Wild Bill! He would've been fine if only that kiss hadn't
happened! We had to call in an ambulance for him! But since we were
so far out UVA sent Pegasus in to airlift him out.
Other than that we got a lot accomplished and are still on schedule. We're
movin' right along and will see you next week!
5/19/02
Today we shot the big bar scene and the interiors at the
"Old Cabin." We had a lot of out of towners in and today was our
biggest cast-on-set yet. I got to meet many new people today and it is
such a pleasure to work with 'em. Everyone on this shoot is so easy
going. Everything is relaxed and tempers are always good. Tony Volpe
(Juan Jose) popped into town for his scene. He is a funny guy and he kept
everyone laughing throughout the morning. We had Mike Carlos Thomas in to
play one of Juan's men. Mike is a Pro wrestler from the area .
("Bad Dog"; "The Fighting Irishman") There was a part
where he walks up and pushes Todd Vencil back to make way. Todd was thrown
back about 5 feet. Needless to say we did about four takes of it so Todd
could feel the pain. There were some more people and when I get their
names I'll update the site. For now I'll thank everyone there for a great
day of filmmaking. Also Eric Thornett (Of Piranha
Pictures!)came down to play the bartender today. Eric got to add his
own touch to the character. Check out the new pictures!
5/25/02-5/26/02
Bob Wallace (The Cheyenne Kid), John Powell (Wild Bill), and
Eric Thornett (Bart) were the main focus of this weekend's filming. We
knocked a lot of scenes out and we missed a few as well. Eric did so well
with his Bart scenes we're thinking of renaming this to "Return of Bart the
Bartender." Bob Wallace spent a lot of this weekend lying on
the ground being assaulted by Kayla and Tommy with a stick. And as always
Wild Bill was perfect. He hit every mark and didn't flub any lines at
all. Whatta man!
Another cool note is that David Stewart's brother Daniel showed up for the day
on Sunday and assisted some during one of the scenes. It was his first
time to work on a movie like this and it was swell having him around for all the
dirty stinky odd jobs. Thanks Daniel!
6/3/02
This past weekend we didn't film. So I spent a lot of my time with my
family.
I also got a chance to edit. (I like to edit as I shoot because I get to find out what works and what doesn't and I don't have to call up some cast
member a month from now and beg them for a re-shoot of some scene.)
And I've gotten to add a lot of digital effects to the movie. I'm amazed at how many effects I've already got in there so far. Digital effects in a
cowboy movie? Don't worry these are the type of effects that you'll never see or realize. Added perks to a shot to enhance it a little. Or a
cover-up of some kind to hide an imperfection.
My personal favorite is the "Hide Mitch Toney Effect" Aside from everything else he does Mitch is also the main Horse Wrangler. So many
times we've needed him to stand in and keep the horses still. In the old days I would have just gotten a close up and cut him out of the shot
entirely. But this is the first time I've gotten to use 'real' horses and darn it I want to show them. So with a few tender moments on my computer
later I can take any shot and manipulate it to my liking.
A couple of years ago this would've been unthinkable but technology nowadays offers us so much.
6/9/02
Another weekend of shooting gone by. It was a nice
weekend for exterior shots. It wasn't painfully hot and the sky's were
clear. I left my sun block at home so I look like a lobster right now and
I'll probably have skin cancer by 35.
We shot both days this time and got everything accomplished that was
planned. We also finished up with John Powell (Wild Bill), Scott Gerken
(Snake), and Todd Vencil (Toad). After today's long day of filming wrapped
up those three smiled at the thought that it's all done for them. Bob
Wallace came down as well and got to gallop for the first time. It was a
pleasure seeing him learn today. (I had just learned myself yesterday
6/8/02) Up until now Bob has been an accomplished trotter and expert
walker on the horse.
Dudley Sauve (Colonel Chance) came up from Farmville on the 8th and we did both
Chance scenes. He was great to work with, a real pro.
Kayla Mason (Lizzy) and Thomas Flippen (Tommy) was out filming as well and let
me just say that Thomas Flippen has become an expert horseman since this project
began.
1-1.5 days left and shooting will be done. "Then it is Post
Production Blues!"
6/15/02
This day was easy. We concentrated on all of the little
things needed to finish the film. All that was left to shoot after this
would be the two scenes involving Francis. Bob Wallace was in town and we
re shot part of the opening sequence. I wanted more light. We did
some light riding and then re shot the mine scene involving Tommy, Lizzy, and
The Cheyenne Kid. It was the third time shooting this scene! The
first time we ran outta light. The second felt too rushed. The third
was perfect.
6/16/02
Beautiful Patricia Madigan took time away from her busy
schedule today and came down to work with us. She had a deadline.
She needed to leave by 12:30. We got her outta there by 2:30. She
handled it ok. And she surprised me with her professionalism. She
was able to snap between glaring at me about the time and playing the character
of Francis within seconds. I'm serious. Especially near the
end. We'd do a take. I'd say cut. Then I'd look at the script
to see what was next. I would catch her wide-eyed look on me boring a hole
through my skull. We'd then do the next shot and she was in Francis mode
again. Amazing!
Bob was happy at the end of the shoot. He flew outta there like an eagle
heading home for his expected Fathers' Day surprise.
Mitch, Myself, Kayla Mason, and my two boys went for a pleasant trail
ride.
FILMING IS DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
POST PRODUCTION BLUES BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6/17-6/19
The Sneak Preview of the movie is to take place on the 20th of
June! Needless to say this will be a "Rough Cut"
showing.
For these three days my schedule consisted of this routine:
1. Wake up at 6:00am.
2. Edit from 6:00am-8:30am.
3. 8:30am.-7:00pm. Computer/Networking Job.
4. Edit from 7:00pm.- 2:00am.
5. Wake up at 6:00am.
and so on.
I did this for three days straight!
6/20/02
And on the 20th of June (THE day of the premiere!) I
edited from 6:30 am. -till 7:15 pm. That gave me just enough time to make
it there at 8:00!!!
Now I do want you all to know that this didn't have to be
done! The project could have been watch able with far less hours put into
it. But I am always wanting the best. So I did my best with the
amount of time I had. (In reality this won't be officially finished for
another two weeks.)
But I made it! My computer didn't crash! And I
didn't crash! And the showing went really well, we had packed the place!
So now it is back to editing! But at a far more relaxed
pace!
8/9/02
Postproduction is almost done! I have been busy during
the last month splitting time between this, my life, and my day job! I
would have probable been finished by now if I'd gotten some acoustic
guitar music from a (unnamed) talker.
So at this point I have to tune up the audio for two more
scenes and we are done. From talking with Mitch Toney. It looks like
we are gonna have a final showing of RTCK at Cactus Jax Restaurant in early
September. I'll keep you posted.
9/17/02
RTCK is finished!
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