Friday, July 28, 2006
Recycle Ranch
I was cleaning Molly and Tony’s house and yard when Charlie called to ask about our meeting time that afternoon to sing at a nursing home. He mentioned that he was signing up for a movie that afternoon at an office not far from our scheduled gig, so I figured I might as well get my name in the pot also. We had worked as extras in other movies.
Upon arrival at the movie producer’s office, I found a questionnaire on the table and filled out the necessary info. A place at the bottom of the page asked for special skills, or some such. I wrote “singing and rinky-tink piano.”
The director lady emerged, asked if I had picked up a script to read, and I said, “No, I’m just here for an extra’s part.”
“You’ll read for us anyway, won’t you?” she asks sweetly.
When the director called me into his office, he asked about the singing and piano, wanted me to sing a few bars of a song instead of reading. I chose one of my own, “Mama Never Said I Love You”, and he seemed excited. At this time I knew nothing about the movie in question.
When I got home that afternoon, I went to the nmfilm web page and found that this project was for a contest to see who could make the best short movie in only 48 hours. The length was to be between four and seven minutes.
On Friday night, the crew got all the info that would be required and started writing the script. Saturday morning early, filming began at a motel in downtown Albuquerque, and later I met them at a hostel in the mountains where most of the story would take place, only a few miles from my home. The finished product had to be turned in by Sunday night.
One of the highlights of my day was sharing my lunch with a beautiful begging donkey, one of several wandering around the premises. A couple of them were in the movie.
The name of the movie is Recycle Ranch, a place where abused women are taken and helped to start a new life. My role is Joy Brookes, a famous bluegrass gospel singer who has undergone abuse and been rehabilitated. I was surprised how much of a story could be told in just a few minutes.
At the screening on Tuesday night, our film seemed to be one of only a few that actually made sense and had the least amount of profanity. My singing sounded pitiful, as we had done the vocal and piano separately, and evidently the sound man knew nothing about music. He just threw them together willy-nilly, regardless of timing, and everything sounded off key. But otherwise, it’s a good movie. The only viewers will be film industry moguls, nothing for the public.
The final tally is in. One of the films screened Monday night was the winner, one we didn't get to see. Better luck next time, crew!
Cora Gail Trent
www.cgtrent.com
Upon arrival at the movie producer’s office, I found a questionnaire on the table and filled out the necessary info. A place at the bottom of the page asked for special skills, or some such. I wrote “singing and rinky-tink piano.”
The director lady emerged, asked if I had picked up a script to read, and I said, “No, I’m just here for an extra’s part.”
“You’ll read for us anyway, won’t you?” she asks sweetly.
When the director called me into his office, he asked about the singing and piano, wanted me to sing a few bars of a song instead of reading. I chose one of my own, “Mama Never Said I Love You”, and he seemed excited. At this time I knew nothing about the movie in question.
When I got home that afternoon, I went to the nmfilm web page and found that this project was for a contest to see who could make the best short movie in only 48 hours. The length was to be between four and seven minutes.
On Friday night, the crew got all the info that would be required and started writing the script. Saturday morning early, filming began at a motel in downtown Albuquerque, and later I met them at a hostel in the mountains where most of the story would take place, only a few miles from my home. The finished product had to be turned in by Sunday night.
One of the highlights of my day was sharing my lunch with a beautiful begging donkey, one of several wandering around the premises. A couple of them were in the movie.
The name of the movie is Recycle Ranch, a place where abused women are taken and helped to start a new life. My role is Joy Brookes, a famous bluegrass gospel singer who has undergone abuse and been rehabilitated. I was surprised how much of a story could be told in just a few minutes.
At the screening on Tuesday night, our film seemed to be one of only a few that actually made sense and had the least amount of profanity. My singing sounded pitiful, as we had done the vocal and piano separately, and evidently the sound man knew nothing about music. He just threw them together willy-nilly, regardless of timing, and everything sounded off key. But otherwise, it’s a good movie. The only viewers will be film industry moguls, nothing for the public.
The final tally is in. One of the films screened Monday night was the winner, one we didn't get to see. Better luck next time, crew!
Cora Gail Trent
www.cgtrent.com
