The Night Shift is the production diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent supernatural-adventure-comedy of the same name currently in "post" in Mobile, AL. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.
It Doesn't Suck
It Doesn't Suck
I can officially announce that the movie does not suck! Thomas and I sat down with Soren (first asst. director and cinematographer) and Genna (first production assistant) to watch the rough cut, and we were pleasantly surprised. The sound needs work, there isn't any music and the special effects still need to be added, but all in all, the bones are there, and they're looking fairly decent.
Honestly, given everything that went wrong during filming, I really had no idea what we were going to end up with. None of us did. We lost our original cinematographer three days before shooting began, so lighting and shots had to be figured out as we went along. The recording system worked when it felt like it, so audio was hit or miss. It was hot and humid, and makeup and hair don't like heat and humidity (neither do actors or crew, for that matter). The cops tried to bust us. Twice. Herbie had mechanical difficulties (the diva). Time was not on our side. There was a train track, and a highly used PA system, both right next to the main cemetery. There were landscapers who thought it was hilarious to run their weedeaters and blowers until we said "cut," then start up again at "action" (and let me assure you, it's not).
But with all that (and a little more I won't bore you with), we really didn't know what to expect. Thomas and I had seen each scene come together separately during editing, but nothing in context with the rest of the movie. Genna and Soren hadn't even seen that much. In fact, most of what Soren had seen had been upside down because, well, that's just what the 35mm lens adapter does. We sat down, pads and pens in hand, ready to rip the thing to shreds.