I shall be much more eloquent this time than with production blog #2.  Technically, this is a pre-production blog, but let's not get bogged down with semantics, ok?

So here's the deal with Douglas... this is my first feature film.  I've never written or directed sucha gargantuan project before, but I feel it's time.  And there's certainly no turning back now.  There's been many serendipitous moments with this project that has made me stop in my tracks and say "yes, this whole thing is meant to be".

This movie is not a heartfelt cryfest about autism and the family, nor is it really about autism at all, but rather more about the character being treated horribly BECAUSE he's autistic.  The whole thing is a case study in what causes people to proverbially... jump?  I guess that's the best way to describe it.  I like stories of pressure and I like stories of what pressure can do someone.  I'm not setting out to make another Rain Man, as much as I enjoyed that movie, nor will this be another Mozart & the Whale... I don't have any interest in making a film that says "HEY LOOK!  AN AUTISTIC CHARACTER!"  Douglas Smith himself just happens to have developed into a character possessing Asperger's traits... and I liked how those traits pitted him against the rest of the world, so I ran with it.

Back to the matter at hand: pre-production.  Lovely, lovely pre-production.  This is where 80% of the film is made before it's even shot.  So far we've survived gathering crew, finalizing the script, registering the script, casting the lead roles, finding money, and getting equipment quotes.  We've found PAs who have become producers, and lots of support and positive feedback for the project as a whole.  It's been bumpy and it's been rejuvenating, but now it has to be crunch time.

7 weeks until picture's up.  7 weeks until all this hard work we've put in will be utilized.  All the mistakes we have made and the gems we've uncovered will be apparent for all to see.  I have my worries, we're still locking locations and we have yet to nail down a sound guy who will work for free (EMAIL douglasthemovie@yahoo.com if interested in helping us out with field sound), we're still raising the funds and I have to finish casting the actors, but we've also come a long way in a short time frame and the crew is enthusiastic, fun, organized, and all have that attitude that we can do this and we will do this no matter what it takes.  People are genuinely digging the script, casting went extremely smoothly and the actors are all excited to be involved, we've found some investors, the crew is getting things done...

We had a pre-pro meeting last night where one of the producers, Michael Geoghegan, told me to shut up and not worry about anything other than storyboarding, rehearsing, and working with the art department. We've finally reached the point where I can relinquish producer control and strictly focus on directing. It's been a long time coming.  This feels really damn good.

So phase 3... locking locations (it looks like we'll be shooting most of this in Quincy if our apartment location works out... we'll see Saturday!), getting the rest of the background actors, buying the camera (HVX200 that we're outfitting with a 35mm lens adaptor), storyboarding, set dressing, rehearsals are what's in store for the next few weeks.  Be sure to look out for more production blogs!  They won't be as storybook as this one... I promise.

So technical stuff:

WE ARE SEEKING PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS: we're having a general pre-production meeting on May 24th at 7PM at the Papercut Zine Library/Democracy Center (45 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, MA).  Everyone interested in PAing for us this July should attend this meeting.  If you cannot make the meeting, but would like to get involved, please send a brief overview or resume of your film/video experience to douglasthemovie@yahoo.com

WE ARE ALWAYS TAKING DONATIONS TOWARDS THE FILM: A donation of $5 or more gets your name in the credits.  We have a paypal link set up at: www.myspace.com/douglasthemovie - email us if you want to donate without using paypal.  Also, people interested in investing in the project are encouraged to contact me at our email address.  Help us raise $30K!!!

Alright, so long, farewell, and bye bye,

-Michelle "Mothra" Millette-
Director/Writer - Douglas.
New England Film & Video Festival Coordinator