Production Diary

Production Diary

This is a very boring read, but it maps out every day of production in skeleton form. Pictures will be added evnentually



Day 1 – 9/5/09
Full day rehearsal with Danny Hassel/Daylen

Day 2 – 9/6
Danny script work, Taylor Engel/Maggie arrives
Taylor/Danny/DJ – get to know each other exercise – Truth or dare

Day 3 – 9/7
Danny/Taylor read through script
Makeup Meeting with Sarah-Beth and Jessica – Jessica takes over
Watch Fear DVDs
Discussions on co-interaction and stamina

Day 4 – 9/8
Finish script read through with Danny/Taylor
Filmed rehearsal of industrial factory scene in parking lot
Discussions on stamina and co-interaction
Maurice Winsell (Toll Booth Dean) and Danny rehearsal for theme park scenes


Day 5 – 9/9
Taylor and I meet Nola (Little Girl in the movie)
Late start for rehearsal
Attempt rehearsal exercises
Emana Rachelle, Jeremy Windham, and EJ Graff arrive for diner rehearsal with Taylor
Photo meeting with Elissa (production designer), and Joe De Sciose (photographer)
Danny solo work – fear
John Arturo arrives (cinematographer)

Day 6 – 9/10
Danny and Taylor exercises – read it like _____, walking, and character dialect
Show Behind The Scenes of films for inspiration
Production work with John and DJ
*FIRST SHOT – plant burial scene 11PM-3AM
Problems – no lighting on the field, police interruption, problems drawing power from cars, location contact not present
Melora Walters agrees to do the film in January instead of during the bulk of filming in August

Day 7 – 9/11
Filming industrial factory scene Day 1 of 4 – 8AM-8PM
Tough shoot – very physical work, hard rainfall, hurried 80 foot crane shot, props mistake, audio problems (not noticed during filming), enormous location made for slow filming and difficult communication

Day 8 – 9/12
Filming industrial factory scene Day 2 of 4 – 8AM -8PM
Same conditions

Day 9 – 9/13
Diner scene – 11:30AM-10PM
Approx. 30 extras
Problems – shoot taking longer than agreed with location, not enough time to get close ups, not enough coverage of one scene because everyone was tired – we come back later for close ups and additional coverage

Day 10 - 9/14
Work on scheduling
John and DJ work on house inventory and misc production construction/errands
Scout party scene location
Taylor/Dr. Philip Cox rehearsal for Coffee Shop scenes

Day 11 – 9/15
-Ava Kelly/Lisa arrives from New York and rehearses with Danny and Alaana Jordan/Park Worker Ana for party scenes
-Taylor and Matthew Martin/Manager Richie go out for lunch to get to know each other
-Coffee Shop scene filming
Extras - 10
Problems – Location agreed to allow unlimited filming time and restricted the time to 4 hours when we arrived (NOT ENOUGH TIME), and the location would not let us turn off the fridge which made for bad sound

Day 12 – 9/16
Taylor and Matthew Martin/Manager Richie rehearsal for grocery store scenes
Nadine Sisson/Park Manager and Danny rehearsal for Daylen firing scene
Ava , Alana, and Danny phone recording
Problems – none
Party Scene – 6PM-3AM
Extras – 30 (100 promised/needed)
Problems – difficult lighting, not enough extras (event coordination problems)

Day 13 – 9/17
E-mail and phone call work
Record Store shoot
Problems – none

Day 14 – 9/18
PROBLEM - Theme Park location backs out as we drive to filming location
PROBLEM - Grocery store location backs out
Buy props, etc.
Work on car flip coordination and other misc. logistics
See movie – “9”

Day 15 – 9/19
Phone scene with Taylor and Gloria Lundberg/Maggie’s Mom/my Grandmother
Problems – the key to the scene was to give my grandmother a brownie so she would concentrate on getting brownie out of her teeth instead of “acting”
Dream sequence shot of Danny in a big paroking lot

Day 16 – 9/20
Industrial Factory Day 2/3
Problems – focusing
Location scouting for apartment interiors

Day 17 – 9/21
Phone calls all day trying to secure grocery store location

Day 18 – 9/22
Matthew Martin/Manager Richie and Taylor walking with couch scene
Problems – 1 hour into filming, we realized the sound was bad. We had to re-scout and film that day before Matthew had to be at work that afternoon
Corporate meeting with Western grocery stores – new grocery approved
Dramatic evening

Day 19 – 9/23
Find accountant for SAG – Ben Jones steps in to help. Otherwise a payroll house must complete work.
Supplies for lake (tire, barrels, etc.)
Rehearsal for lake scene
DJ, John, and Danny build raft

Day 20 – 9/24
Lake shoot day 1 – 4AM – 6PM
Problems – boat breaks down at 6AM, difficult landscape and logistics to shoot a scene on a raft, break pond tune boat overhand, difficult to make tire swing

Day 21 – 9/25
Lake shoot day 2 – 4AM-6PM
Problems – overnight storm changes tire swing location and water level, DJ fixes tire swing, and Danny makes home-made waves
Myles Webb/Myron arrives in Birmingham
Stay up late fixing broken lake items (pond tune awning and deck light)

Day 22 – 9/26
Clean up lake house – strong downpour
Taylor and Jazelle London rehearsal for plant store scene
Plant store scene
Extras – 10
Problmes – difficult lighting
Stranger in the Parking Lot scene
Leaving plant store happy scene
Overall 5PM – 2AM

Day 23 – 9/27
Car flip day
Problems – poor location, poor planning, bomb squad contact backing out to help, trying to gather materials too late
The car flip failed, and we smashed a window instead to simulate a car crash
Myles and Danny hang out

Day 24 – 9/28
Myron and Danny hang out and rehearse
Bob Fitts/Paul/Manager Gordon rehearsal with Danny
Shoot family portrait of the Gordon’s
e-mails and scheduling catch up

Day 25 – 9/29
Meeting with Grocery store general manager, errands
Danny/Myles/Bob scenes at Gordon house and driving around neighborhood scenes (2PM-11PM)
Problems – running out of light, strapping camera to car takes a little bit of time

Day 26 – 9/30
More Gordon house driving scenes 1PM-4PM
Problems – timing issues
Picking up Myron at the school scene 4PM-7PM
Problems – running out of light


Day 27 – 10/1
Sunrise shot for fast food scene with Danny and Myron – 4:30AM-9AM
Problems – sun coming up makes lighting match hard, used production van to block light, focus issues, costume continuity with jacket
Scene – Myron plays guitar, Danny says “hey”
Problems – promptness
Jocelyn Druyan/Maggie’s Mom arrives very late – airport pickup and go over costumes

Day 28 – 10/2
Jocelyn and Dean Elmore/Stranger scene – “getting directions”
Problems – none
Jocelyn/Taylor rehearsal
Location Scouting for driving shots

Day 29 – 10/3
Open Mic Scene
Extras – 30 kids, 10 adults
Problems – location
School Hallway scene
Problem – focus pulling
Location scouting

Day 30 – 10/4
Jocelyn/Taylor/Matthew – big grocery store scenes – 6:30AM-6PM
Problems – rain on equipment, cursing in front of patrons, miscommunication regarding technique

Day 31 – 10/5
Jocelyn/Taylor/Grandmother – more phone call scenes
Problems – continuity of blanket
Plant store additional footage shot to extend scene (man-lift shot)
Problems – Missing costume
Danny/Alana rehearsal

Day 32 – 10/6
*Theme park crisis – scout most of the day to find location alternative after theme park location completely backs out
Nervous Driving scene
Problems – shooting at incorrect resolution, mic battery dies, exposure problems
Myron and Jocelyn go home

Day 33 – 10/7
Grocery Store shoot (after the phone call and name tag scene) with Matthew Martin, Taylor, Dylan Dunn, and the Dunn Family
Problems – none
Location scouting and Bomb squad meeting
Victoria Mullen/Flower Shop Owner arrives
Mark Boone Junior arrives, go over costume

Day 34 – 10/8
Sunrise shot – Toy Store – 4AM-9AM
Problems – race against the light, camera visible in window reflection, stopping cars from parking in spaces
Boone rehearsal – solo and with Victoria

Day 35 – 10/9
Apartment complex exterior shoot and driving shots (end of the movie and leaving/arriving at apartments) 4AM – 11PM
Problems – tenant car continuity, story continuity thinking, forgotten costumes, props suitcase lost on the interstate, finding apartments to use on the day, finishing before nightfall

Day 36 – 10/10
Junk yard shoot – 10AM-2PM
Problems – took longer than expected
Hospital Shoot – 2-4PM
Problems – finding the room
Middle of nowhere landfill pickup shots – 4-7PM
Problems – unstable terrain, running out of daylight

Day 37 – 10/11
Delivery truck inserts, driving shots 9-3PM
Problems - none
Danny rehearsal with Alana
Kidnapping Daylen scene 8-10PM
Problems – waiting on a lava lamp to warm up

Day 38 – 10/12
Flower Shop scenes - 9-5:30
Problems – running out of time, fridge water dripping, original flower shop dropping out one week before filming
Taylor leaving restaurant – 5:30 – 7PM
Problems – forgotten costume piece

Day 39 – 10/13
Theme Park scenes part 1 with Danny, Maurice, Alana, and Boone – 7AM-3PM
Problems – promptness, focus
Park – shattering glass – 3PM-830PM
Problems – glass shatters in larger radius than anticipated, difficult clean up, running out of light to clean up

Day 40 – 10/14
Grocery Store scenes with Boone and Taylor – 9AM-11AM
Problems – previously-acquired pay phone is stolen
Look for replacement pay phone and nearly get arrested

Day 41 – 10/15 - 4PM-7PM
Theme Park Day 2 with Danny and Nadine/Park Manager – 8AM-4PM
Problems - promptness, rain delays, missing costume piece, cloud coverage
Grocery Store phone scene
Problems – losing daylight, getting into the moment

Day 42 – 10/16
Explosion scene day 1 -
Problems – promptness, coordination of everyone and the location, walking everyone through all actions too too much time, steadicam delays in assembly, BOMB SQUAD BACKS OUT THE DAY BEFORE THE EXPLOSION, make up delays, tire burning learning curve, costume purchase delays

Day 43 – 10/17
Theme Park Day 3 – with Danny, Alana, and Boone – 10AM – 5PM
Problems – promptness, focus, cold weather and summer costumes

Day 44 – 10/18
Grocery store scenes – Boone and Taylor (loading dock and storefront) – 9AM-3PM
Problems – sun changes, DJ (soundman) gone
Van kidnapping scene – 7PM-10PM
Problems – lighting realistically

Day 45 – 10/19
Toy Store scene – 9AM-2PM (trying to secure art museum)
Problems – customer intrusion
Delivery Headquarters – exterior shot – 2-3:30PM
Problems – coordination from across-the-street parking lot, directions to location
Delivery Headquarters – 4-7PM
Problems – blocking daylight, time constraints, dealing with real business

Day 46 – 10/20
Library scene – 630AM-9AM
Problems – dropping Red camera, logic delays
Boone inserts of driving and dragging bench (in quarry) 9AM-1230PM
Problems – difficult terrain
Art Museum – 1230PM-2PM
Problems – location clearance challenges, short filming time, no lighting allowed
Delivery Truck – Dosing Danny and Taylor – 2-4PM
Problems – none

Day 47 – 10/21
Puzzle heist and montage – 10AM-2PM
Problems – finding location the day of
LAST MINUTE BOMB SQUAD SCRAMBLE
-Since the first bomb squad backed out the day before the explosion, 4 other bomb squads agreed to do it and subsequently backed out. The day before the newly planned explosion, the Gadsden bomb squad agreed but not without a permit from the state fire marshall. Arranging for a permit 3 hours before close was nearly impossible.
Football stadium shot – 4PM
Problems – Boone gets recognized during a stolen shot, we get in trouble and aren’t allowed to film it – but we steal it anyway

Day 48 – 10/22
Explosion day – shooting day 2
Problems – promptness, costume issues, logistics, explosion rehearsals take time, explosions don’t work properly, fighting daylight, cloud coverage

Day 49 – 10/23
Salon scene 9AM-1PM
Problems – cloud coverage delays
Boone leaves

Day 50 – 10/24
Taylor apartment shoot – interior night – 7PM-12AM
Problems – DJ is off

Day 51 – 10/25
Taylor apartment shoot – interior day – 7AM-10AM
Problems – none
Courtney’s diner reshoots and Bob Fitts/manager scene – close ups and other scene reshoot – 12PM-5:30PM
Problems – refrigerators sound issues and time
Apartment redecorate
Emergency recasts of 2 characters – Grocery Lily and Grocery Jeff

Day 52 – 10/26
Grocery scenes – Hannah Hughes and Judson Entrekin and Taylor 9AM-3PM
Problems – extras inconsistencies
Grocery inserts and additional close up shots (John shoots)
Problems - none

Day 53 – 10/27
Sylacauga shoot with Danny and Taylor – waking up – 6AM-12PM
Problems - rain
Cullman reshoots with Danny and Taylor – 12PM-4:30PM
Problems – running out of time

Day 54 – 10/28
Industrial factory day 4 – audio reshoots
Problems – focus, nearby train audio delays
Danny apartment interior shots
Problems – focus
Ghetto reshoots – apartment exterior shots with Taylor
Problems – focus, we left the microphone in the ghetto overnight
Dream shot and sleeping shot with Taylor
(Dramatic morning with Danny – 2 hour delay)

Day 55 – 10/29
Get to theme park to shoot, but we forgot to get the microphone
Danny driving shots
Danny apartment interior night shots – 7PM-4AM

Day 56 – 10/30
Theme Park day 5
Opening sequence with Danny (driving and arriving at toll booth) – 10AM-6PM
Problems – numerous coverage, accidental deleting of footage

Day 56 – 10/31
No filming – prepare for road trip

Day 57 – 11/1
Leave for road trip
Problem – extreme car problems – don’t leave until 4PM
Arrive in Fort Smith, Arkansas at 3AM – sleep at grandmother’s house

Day 58 – 11/2
Driving all day
Sleep in Dodge City, Kansas

Day 59 – 11/3
Get materials in Garden City, Kansas
Drive to Chalk Pyramids – look at pyramids with Rick the crane operatore
Camp in Chalk Pyramids

Day 60 – 11/4
Film all day in Chalk Pyramids – Crane day
Problems – difficult terrain, cold weather at night, fighting light, crane visibility, crane noise
Night shoots
Problems – abrupt film end

Day 61 – 11/5
Film all day in Chalk Pyramids
Problems - focus
Night shoots
Problems - cold

Day 62 – 11/6
Film in the morning
Problems – abrupt film end
And insert shots as DJ takes care of car problems

Day 63 – 11/7
Location scouting and purchasing supplies in Rapid City, SD

Day 64 – 11/8
Filming in Rapid City, SD
Problems – difficult terrain, running out of light, not enough coverage, missed long shot opportunity

Day 65 – 11/9
Driving all day
Sleep in Denver – nice hotel (donated hotel points)

Day 70 – 11/10
Arrive in Leadville, CO
Location scouting, clothes purchasing, and props preparation

Day 71 – 11/11
Filming – snow river scene
Problems – difficult terrain, altitude tiredness

Day 72 – 11/12
Filming – walking in the snow scene, snowfight
Problems – no John, audio difficult to capture

Day 73 – 11/13
Filming – top of the mountain scene
Problems – snow chains, snow very deep, cold weather, tiredness

Day 74 – 11/14
Filming – crane day – establishing shot walking up the mountain, and sledding down the hill shot
Problems – lots of coverage for a single day, moving the crane

Day 75 – 11/15
Filming – sledding inserts, additional shooting of dialogue shots
Problems – promptness
Driving at night, have to stop in Vale, CO because of the snow

Day 76 – 11/16
Driving to Salt Lake City, UT

Day 77 – 11/17
John and I scout the Salt Flats
Purchase props

Day 78 – 11/18
Filming – Salt Flats and crane day – 4AM-4PM
Problems – focus, lizard movement

Day 79 – 11/19
Drive to Arches national park
Film – Arches
Problems – focus

Day 80 – 11/20
Drive to Albequerque, NM

Day 81 – 11/21
Drive to Oklahoma City, OK

Day 82 – 11/22
Filming – smoke bomb scene in Oklahoma
Problems – locations disagreements, costume delays focus
Road trip ends