Tropfest 07

Where were all the MAP students?! None of you turned up *sniff sniff* (except Alissa, but she had her own picnic going on)

So, it ended up being my lovely schoolfriends: an optom student, a medical science student, and a science major!

We devoured a barbeque chicken, salad, donuts, apple rounds, dip, chips ... SO full at the end, it was disgusting. And we didn't get burnt despite the blazing sun, which was incredible. Played poker, UNO, talked, talked, talked...watched a lonely boy make out with a crocodile hand puppet (you know what I'm talking about if you were there)

I was credited in the film that Hugo produced 'Real Thing'. Although I didn't deserve the credit. I was SO sick on that day, but I rocked up to set, then they told me "Go home, you're sick!". And I did and slept like a baby.

I was speaking to some MAP students, and there's actually a lot of them who really don't like the films that end up getting into Tropfest...I do agree that there's a bias towards comedies etc etc and some of the films aren't very technically proficient but I loves loves the festival because it's a giant picnic day with FILMS! *mwah*

***

I'm getting a haircut tomorrow. No change in hair length, but thinking of tidying up the ends. Wish me luck!

'Glory' wrap party

Lots of photos from the wrap party! I thought it was an awesome night, and I hope everyone had fun - well I guess they did by the speed at which the bar tab finished. It was really nice night out in the beer garden of the Marly as well, and a lot of the crew showed up, which was awesome.

Good times:

Alex's partner Cecilia asking me about what the Chinese symbol on her necklace that Alex's mother gave her means, me not knowing, then her bagging me out for not being a real Chinese person! Cecilia also picked up that my name is the same as one of the characters in Seinfeld. All I can say is, I'm the original!

Dave running from Gretel (and the other girls), who during the shoot, wanted him to show us his abs. "I feel so objectified!"

Imogen eating Veg's cherry ... the cherry from Veg's cocktail. Get your mind out of the gutter.

Mary slapping Xander around like nobody's business.

Emma thinking Mary's boyfriend's name was Sandra, and being very confused.

The ale we received when we ordered a merlot.

Veg holding the bar tab card because I couldn't be trusted with it.

My first taste of absinthe, courtesy of Andy. Me and almost pure alcohol don't go well together.

The gorgeous cocktails, Emma's Pink Panther, Imogen's lychee and lime mojito, and Mary's Filipino Slipper.

Me being completely broke at the end of the night! I still am broke.

lj's 21st & luci's 20th

Both birthdays at North Sydney Leagues Club, which made it ultra-convenient to pop in between the two.

I got SO lost getting there, and I walked up and down Cammeray shops looking for where Abbott St was! Finally I called Luci who saved me ("Towards Flight Centre, no, no away from the BP service station!")

I went to see Luci, who looked lovely as always, in the beer garden. I did want to spend more time with Luci, but they moved on to another pub shortly after, so I didn't get to spend more time with her and her friends. I think when Anna works out when we'll all have lunch together, we'll have more time to catch up!

LJ had a fantastic mix of 80s songs & vid clips & photos, as well as theme songs from childhood cartoons. Omigosh, does anyone remember Raggy Dolls?! Add to that, some very sweet speeches from LJ's closest friends, which I videotaped for LJ. Apologies for the shocking camerawork - I also really stupidly asked Lam beforehand ... "So, where's the record button?" Shows how much I learnt in MAP.

I only have a photo with one of the birthday girls, because again, I stupidly didn't get one with Luce. Grrr. I think this is quite a nice photo of me and LJ though...

babies and birthdays

Rena's sister Ally has had a baby girl today, and they're naming her Anna! I feel like I've known Ally and Jimmy forever cause I've known Rena since Year 1, and it's strange to think of Ally having kids. Awww, Rena is gonna be an aunty!

Keya's 20th champagne brunch/pool partay was yesterday. Keya made the SWEETEST personal collages for everyone with photos of us and a little typed message. I love mine, and am still deciding where to put it in my room.

LJ and Luci's birthday parties are on the same night, at the same place! How extra convenient for me...I hate it when you have two things on the same night and they're on opposite sides of Sydney.

'Glory' shoot

I can't believe it's finally finished!

I couldn't have done it without all my crew, actors. Everyone was so on the ball and professional and worked so hard! I just hope that i'm able to do all their hard work justice and turn out a good film.

Camera crew were tops, so professional and I learned so much from working with them! Who wasn't in awe of Dugal and the camera crew? Design was excellent thanks to Imogen, Mary, Kaori, Dylan and Danielle...the doll and house were SO excellently creepy, costumes were fantastic, and makeup was unbelievable ... so good! Production, thanks to Veg and Emma was incredible - everything ran on time and was efficient. Gretel, our 1st AD, also ran a very tight ship and was there to deal with my insecurity ("Do we have enough coverage?!" "I think that's going to cut ... right?") Anna kept a close eye on everything and took excellent notes. Izzy was great with stills with some really beautiful shots in there. I also love my mum and all her food!

Special thanks again to Veg, who was the best producer, who listened to and helped me through my neurotic moments, and was so selfless.

Teigan and Greg! Teigan, who helped us out so many times, and was so supportive. And Greg who, bless his heart, was always on call to help us out when we were in tight situations.

Annie, my actor, was in a word - amazing. Alex was great, and looked exactly like a junkie, and Mark and Katherine were so dedicated.

Sound was the only thing that screwed us over. Poor Dave, who was so incredibly great through the whole shoot, was immediately promoted from boom boy to sound recordist when Ivan didn't show up for the shoot - we later learned that he was in hospital! Add to that some faulty sound equipment which has potentially put us into ADR land. Grrrr.

Some shoot highlights/lowlights:

Burning up newspaper and cutlery and pots and pans in my front yard (for production design).

Crazy heavy metal music coming from one of the houses surrounding the park location.

Annoying sweeping sounds. ("Are they sweeping again?!")

Gretel trying to lift Dave's shirt up (long story).

Keyboard music coming from one of the warehouses around the street location and people trying to dance to it.

A little girl rocking out to Funky Town

The drunk guy who interrupted our shoot on the LAST shot of the day, and generally was a dickhead with poor Veg and Gretel bearing the brunt of it. According to Gretel, he picked up some girl later that night?! Craziness.

My dog humped Craig's leg! This was after I described my dog as merely "affectionate"

My mother's talk with the makeup girl ... I can provide details to you later in private. Needless to say, I found my mother's 'advice' mortifying.