And Action...

it’s a cliché but there really is something electric about seeing the crew and cast arrive: everyone focussed and energetic, cast in rehearsal and then finally the hour arrives and cameras can roll. As this is a timed competition, 2:00pm today marked the moment that cameras could roll. They will keep rolling until midnight tonight, but by Sunday night the shoot will be over and we will be onto the post production.

It's all systems go! go! go! the shoot schedule is Friday: 12pm-12midnight, Saturday 6pm - midnight, Sunday 9am-9pm! and after that... well... keep reading!

Snow!

So what does today look like, well that pile of contracts awaits and the snow is already settling, so deadlines and details are of the essence. But so is a great deal of creativity. This year the verse we have been given from Luke’s gospel tells of Jesus Baptism and his affirmation he received from his Father (Luke 3: 21,22), and conversations on how to convey this with crew, cast and producers have been fascinating. We have a great script, written by Nigel Forde, and cameras roll at 2:00pm tomorrow. Which reminds me, those deadlines, and that snow, are really piling up…

Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork!

Day of mounting paperwork and details, but some really good progress. We had an excellent meeting with the post production team in Leeds. We will be shooting with the Red camera, quite probably the digital camera that will replace film and certainly capable of creating the look of 35mm film. However this also requires detailed planning.

Today we also secured a further two possible locations and visited all three options with the director, designer, DoP and the team who have arrived to make a film of 'the making of' our film. Which does leave the question of what we are to call it. As the discussions went on into the evening we decided to carry on with the working title of 'Subtexts'.

With the casting now complete we have 11 cast contracts, 20 crew agreements and 3 location agreements to complete and sign in 24 hours.. On which note its back to the paperwork,

Pre Production preparation

Pre production is going on apace: bringing the cast and crew together, checking every detail from tea to toilet rolls, sourcing equipment and finalising the script.

The cast is still to be confirmed (but need to start rehearsals in two days time) and we are flat out on a million and one details you might never have thought came into film production; and that we are only hoping we have remembered!

Looks like we may have sorted our exterior location today – with simply stunning views of York and, for now at least, snow on the North Yorkshire Moors in the distance. Meeting with crew, 1st Assistant director and Director today, meeting with the post production crew in Leeds tomorrow.

We have been allocated the following piece of verse from the Bible on which we will create our film project:
Luke 3:21-22 (NIV)
"21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Riding Lights goes to Hollywood!!!

After our first "toe-dip" into film writing last Summer we have teamed up with The Bible Society to take part in the 168 Film Project. The 168 Film Project exists to encourage emerging film-makers. Worldwide, people form groups that are passionate about telling stories. Movies are a maximum of 11 minutes long and are based on the Bible. Films premiere at the 168 Film Festival April 3-4, 2009 in Los Angeles.

The theme for the 2009 competition is 'Family Business'. Filming starts at 2pm on Friday 13th February for 168 hours; we'll keep updating this page to let you know how it's all going!