In the evening Paula and Scott Merrow take their first visit to the editing room at Big Byte to review the work of editor David Nelson Ferry and assistant editor Justin Golightly on "The Spider Experiment."

So far the Merrows have been impressed with what they've seen of Ferry and Golightly's progress. Especially since the guys have managed to save the drunk-spider scene with the help of special effects.

Initially Paul Gallegos, the director of photography, was worried the footage couldn't be saved. Ferry and Golightly label the repair as a happy accident.

"Well, you know what they say: It's better to be lucky than good," Merrow said.

Continue reading "Duke City Shootout: Day 7" »

Posted by J.A. Montalbano at 06:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trib staffer Maggie Ybarra infiltrates the editing room:

Getting past security into the Big Byte building during the evening is like informing the secret service that if the president isn't going to eat all of his dinner you'd like to auction off his half-eaten roll on eBay. Either way -- with or without the humor -- you're going to get a dirty look for your efforts.

Big Byte stores important information from all over the world in its electronic data units. More than money and more than gold, what Big Byte contains is so valuable that in the event of a natural disaster or catastrophe its contents are guaranteed to outlast every human and cockroach on the planet.

Up on the second floor various rooms have been allotted for each editing crew with paper signs attached to the door frames that have the name of each movie on it.

"Welcome to the war room," assistant editor Justin Golightly said Wednesday night as he showcased a tiny room that contained two massive computer screens with accommodating equipment. "This is our refrigerator-size computer unit."

Golightly and Primary Editor David Nelson Ferry have been at Big Byte every night since the competition began formatting and sculpting the multiple scenes and takes into an enjoyable 10-minute film, "The Spider Experiment."

Continue reading "Duke City Shootout: Day 6" »

Posted by J.A. Montalbano at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Maggie Ybarra is there for the final shooting and the start of editing of "The Spider Experiment":

Today there is a shift in the moviemaking powers that be. No longer will first assistant director Joann Connolly be screaming at the top of her lungs, "Lock it down! Quiet on the set please!"

Now is the time for the editing department to chop, cut and paste together what they think will make for the best 10-minute movie.

David Nelson Ferry Jr. and Justin Golightly will be in charge of editing. Stay tuned for an update on the all-night, keep-the-coffee-coming editing adventures of two determined volunteers functioning as best they can within their given time constraint.

Posted by J.A. Montalbano at 06:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trib staffer Maggie Ybarra keeps up with "The Spider Experiment" crew:

"Let's do it again, let's do it again," Taylor Warden chants as Mikaela Barker holds a white box over his head. The box is labeled in red letters: "Warning, do not open."

The child actors are in a classroom at the back of Annunciation Elementary School. The four main characters in the script are in the room with a handful of extras creating a constantly happy, energetic stir that is enough to make anyone appreciate the work that goes into being a teacher.

"I'm never having children from ages 8 to 12," producer Kendall Anlian declares amid the chaos.

Continue reading "Duke City Shootout: Day 4" »

Posted by J.A. Montalbano at 07:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trib staffer Maggie Ybarra's daily dispatch:

"Are you stuck in there?" Scott Merrow, co-writer and director of "The Spider Experiment," asks the young actress in the dryer.

Teagan Stewart, 11, has spent the first part of Monday morning crammed inside a dryer and shooting a scene where she attempts to make a spider sick in an experiment. She exits the laundry room wearing a pair of yellow plastic gloves.

"I think I murdered my spider," she says.

Continue reading "Duke City Shootout: Day 3" »

Posted by J.A. Montalbano at 04:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trib staffer Maggie Ybarra proves she's not afraid of spiders:

Today's shoot is at the house of producer Kendall Anlian's parents.

Anlian's mother is an architect, which explains why the house evolved from a three-bedroom residence to a beautiful, sprawling estate on the corner of Washington and Constitution.

Members of the cast are now sporting black hats that say "The Spider Experiment" in bold white letters.

If you've never been on a movie set before it's best to keep in mind at all times -- whether it's a feature or a short -- the standard formula in the production stage is hurry up and wait. Sunday morning seems to have a whole lot of wait in it. And so the cast of "The Spider Experiment" waits and waits and waits until all the equipment is set up properly.

Continue reading "Duke City Shootout: Day 2" »

Posted by J.A. Montalbano at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trib staffer Maggie Ybarra is all over the seven-day film frenzy:

There's a problem with the camera but it's expected.

The first day of the Duke City Shootout is when the glitches are allowed to introduce themselves and make friends. Although having something go wrong with your camera within the first two hours isn't the friendliest of experiences.

On the set of "The Spider Experiment," the producer, University of Arizona film student Kendall Anlian, gracefully stays on top of the melee surrounding her while a group of men trouble-shoot the camera problem.

Continue reading "Duke City Shootout: Day 1" »

Posted by J.A. Montalbano at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)