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Taking it to the streets

Saturday, August 28, around 10:30pm. A shot of two hands. Nothing fancy or complex. We didn’t even really have to roll sound. That’s how what was likely the longest shoot day in LightsOut lore ended. Peacefully. How misleading.

The players in that final shot (Larissa Laurel, Misti Dawn Garritano and Marc Daniels) had taken their characters (and themselves) through a maelstrom. At the risk of spoilers, there was more than emotion spilled (and there was plenty of emotion), all wrapped up nicely in a haywired finale of chaos. Let me take this moment to give extra kudos to Misti for enduring some funky make-up FX while selling it on screen and to Larissa and Marc for giving emotional weight to it all. We reached the finish line in style. Cheers.

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So that’s how the first day of photography on the episode Return To Sender ended. How it began was pure, glorious mayhem. We had put out a call for extras to friends and strangers alike, and we ended up with exactly what we needed – a potpourri of enthusiastic folks full of positive mojo, itching to stage some haywire bedlam. Haywire lessons for the day: Don’t roll over a haywire’s Frisbee, interrupt their quiet reading sessions, muck up their landscaping, or swipe their sponge when they’re washing the car. It doesn’t go over well.

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Clockwise from left: Jessica Buck, Stavros Adamides, Marc Daniels, Misti Garritano, Larissa Laurel, Shawn Aurelio, Saoirse Moloney Stevenson, Andy Petrozak, James Walsh, Chris Marth, Michael Cally, Anthony Cally, Daniel Reilly

Speaking of not going over well, as the morning street wackiness progressed, I became increasingly convinced that Lou was right. We were heading for another meeting with our new friends, the local police. There was a seemingly endless parade of cars down our normally quiet street, and just about every one slowed down to gawk at the people with the camera, tripods and reflectors, not to mention the occasional bellowing haywire beating on someone. So many, in fact, they were dubbed “weberneckers” – people that hold up progress to stare at folks shooting webisodes. So why no police? Probably because there was a cast member on hand to watch the fun that just happens to be a newly retired police officer. The one day the situation could have been easily handled, we get left alone. Sigh.

Of course, there was our rock-steady crew on hand. If I raved about you folks every blog like I want to, it would get disturbing. Let me leave it at this: from the technical to the creative to the organizational, you folks are tops. Special thanks to our temporarily departing lighting director Roberto – you’ll be missed, sir, but your skills and tips not forgotten.

 

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