There’s a day off in the FAT KID RULES THE WORLD schedule, and the last day before the day off wraps at 5am. By the time I make it back to where I’m staying, it’s closer to 5:30am. The next day is Sunday, and since I’m free, I take the opportunity to wake up at noon to listen to Film Courage on LA Talk Radio with guest Wonder Russell calling in from Denver. I’m listening to it in Wonder’s living room. In Seattle.
Welcome to the weirdness that is my life.
Near the end of the show, my phone rings. Phil Seneker (who keeps showing up on this trip) is working on a film and wants to know if I feel like swinging by. So then I’m in the car, driving to Woodinville, WA to help out on Brendon Fogle’s debut short SYNC.
They’re in the last day of shooting. Actually, the last half day of shooting. They don’t need my help. They’ve got a small crew in a small room with a somewhat minimal kit and they’re on schedule. No drama. No chaos.
But Phil’s a backer. His son Ethan is the film’s lead. Brendon is a backer. The least I can do is show up and shoot some behind the scenes photos and hang out.
SYNC is shooting in a small, alternative high school where Brendon teaches. They’ve built a full set in their big common room, complete with moveable walls and all that fun stuff, but today they’re filming in a classroom they’ve turned into the bedroom of Ethan’s character.
It really kind of makes me wish I could have shown up for the set construction, because I imagine that would have been compelling.
So it goes.
I’m there for a couple of hours. I take a few pictures. Eat some of the extra craft services food. I spot a picture John Trigonis on the wall–apparently he sent them a picture of himself to use on an album cover (the indie community at its most elegant and cooperative).
And that’s it. I’m not even sure what the film is about. I know there’s Ethan and a girl laying on a bed (go Ethan) and some vinyl records. I’ve asked Brendon to write something on the production, so we can get a proper feel for it. But, for now, enjoy some pictures from my “day off”.
Filmmaker Lucas McNelly is spending a year on the road, volunteering on indie film projects around the country, documenting the process and the exploring the idea of a mobile creative professional. You can see more from A Year Without Rent at the webpage. His feature-length debut is now available to rent on VOD. Follow him on Twitter: @lmcnelly.
