Cougar Hunting

COUPLEDOM

We seem to have a lot of couples on set. Two of our Assistant Directors are together, our other Assistant Director is with the Key Set PA, our Behind-the-Scenes duo … the list goes on. We did a lot of hiring in pairs for this project! While Valentine’s Day has long since passed, it was just one of those days on set where everyone seemed to need a little lovin’ …

PRECARIOUS SITUATION

I arrived late today. I hiked uphill towards the Snowmass Village Town Hall. I noticed a crowd in the parking lot assembled as if filming were taking place. They stood silently. Robin sat behind a video monitor. The actors acted. Yet there was neither camera nor cameramen to be spotted....

And then I looked up. Perched VERY precariously atop a nearby hill sat our camera crew. Above both our camera and our director of photography dangled yellow ropes - they were physically tied onto the mountain to prevent tumbling.

OUR PRODUCTION OFFICE IS, AS OUR LINE PRODUCER WOULD SAY,“TOTALLY IN THE GHETTO”

Yea this is the view out front of the office. Be jealous, it’s nice. Calming effect of view constantly appreciated.

MUSTACHE FRIDAY (4.24.09 crew call, 7pm-ish)

It is absolutely beyond my comprehension how our crew could have been in such a good mood upon arrival to work tonight. We filmed last night through till after 6am this morning, we will be filming at least as late today… These people have energy reserves and emotional resiliency to boot! To keep the humour up the ADs decided to declare it Mustache Friday on today’s call sheet … crew members were directed to the YouTube video ‘How TO: Fake Mustache’ for inspiration. Some took the idea a little further…

JEALOUS? You know you are. A couple crew members looked so good we directed them HERE to learn how grow their own permanent real fake mustaches. Not a guy? No time to grow it out? Buy your own facial coiffeur at the BEST fake beard, sideburn and mustache website EVER : http://www.actonecostumes.net/bemusiandse.html.

WE ARE HAVING A SUNSCREEN PROBLEM (4.23.09)

It’s no longer winter in Aspen. It’s getting hot, the sun is bright and everyone is enjoying being outdoors. While filming on Aspen Mountain sunscreen was passed around aplenty and still everyone rocked some serious tans the next day. Some got burnt and whined. Problem though ain’t the crew though – it’s the cast! Jareb already got a good scolding and some strong after sun body balm when he spent his day off sizzling poolside (see make up artists Cecelia Antony’s funny blog entry). Meanwhile, Matt Prokop went to lunch at Mezzaluna, this afternoon and happily rolled up his sleeves to soak in some sunshine. Jareb was with him, Lara was with him, our associate producer swung by - he announced to everyone that he wasn’t gonna be so pasty white anymore. Everyone laughed and no one thought twice about it. Matt’s wardrobe for this evening’s shoot is a pair of tiny tidy whitey undies. He showed up to set in a hoody sweatshirt, changed in private, and threw on a robe before rehursing the shot, going to hair and make-up etc. As the cameras were just about to roll for the shot, he shed the robe. Viola Rock, our key make up artist audibly squeeled – he’d gotten some major tan lines over lunch which he DID NOT have when we were filming a different part of this same scene yesterday! She rushed to get heavy concealer and caked it up and down his arms! He is now walking around with his arm spread like some zombie mummie trying to avoid touching anything and causing smudges!

NO STUNT DRIVER NEEDED (4.23.09)

OH MY GOODNESS does Jillian Murray ever know how to handle a vehicle. The petite girl, made up to the max, covered in fake barf is whirling this huge Ford Explorer around a curve, roaring at lightning speed. Its on gravel, its down a narrow driveway. Sharp bend, large tree. It is epic! We are filming at 1am, its COLD, she is not dressed right for this weather and the girl is killing it! I am so impressed!

WEBISODES: COMING VERY SOON

We are filming webisodes! We’ve been working hard to get some fun footage from set and some revealing post-performance interviews with actors and crew members. We are going to be posting an array of minute or two long webisodes covering everything from insider’s drama, conversations our cast, behind the scenes exposés on the ins and outs of lots of jobs on this movie set. The webisodes will reveal how a film is made, relay the creative process behind this project and hopefully capture the whole kit and kaboodle, heart and soul, of Cougar Hunting.