Fun day yesterday

[karohemd]

Despite the alarm clock going off almost two hours earlier than during the week. *groan*

I was supposed to be at Shire Hall at 8 and figured it couldn't hurt to be a bit early. I got there at about 10 to and the carpark was empty so I phoned my contact who after a while turned up. There was some waiting for a keycard and then we could go in to keep warm. Meanwhile few others had arrived and kept arriving, including belak_krin.
Outside, we were then divided into groups (press and protesters) and given the general idea of what the two scenes we'd be involved in would be about and we did a dry run (without camera and actors) of the first scene to get an idea of where we're supposed to be and what we were supposed to be doing, which worked quite well.
After another wait (for the crew to finish shooting a scene inside), everything was set up outside. Then we did more rehearsals and finally filming began.
The scene was one of the characters arriving at the court being "greeted" by the press and angry protesters (against the reintroduced death penalty) and entering the building with the protesters and press being prevented from entering by two coppers.
IIRC, there were two slightly different setups filmed, with six or so takes each, not necessarily because things had gone wrong but basically to get the best shot possible.
The second scene was of the character and his lawyer leaving the building and being driven off, with the angry mob of protesters and the press behind him. This was filmed from opposite the entrance (in the first scene the camera was set up inside the entrance) so it took half an hour or so until everything had been moved and set up.
Again a few trial runs and quite a few takes filmed (about 10?).
The final bit filmed wasn't a different scene as such but the last bit of the last scene filmed from inside the car.

We actually wrapped just before 2 and got fed pasta and stuff (there had been bacon rolls and snacks and tea/coffee in the morning) and then send on our way with thanks.
It was a fun experience and an interesting glimpse behind the scene of a film production. While there was quite a bit of waiting (naturally) for us, the whole thing had a very professional atmosphere. All of the crew were very friendly and approachable, which was quite relaxing.

After lunch we set off for Farcet and after an uneventful and thankfully quite dry drive, we arrived at the Humphreys' for an afternoon of gaming fun.
belak_krin and I first played a match of BloodBowl, then the design copy of Robin D. Laws' Celebrity! card game I had won at the Dragonmeet auction in 05 (have Pelgrane actually released this by now or is this still in development?) and finally Before I kill you, Mr. Bond? (Cheapass Games). The others played Blood Bowl and then The Hobbit.
After Indian delivery dinner, we watched the quite hilarious Lake Placid, followed by Get Shorty, although I left halfway through the latter as I'd seen it and was feeling very tired.

Feeling tired didn't prevent me from switching on the computer at home, having a look at the photos (which turned out a lot better than I anticipated because I was mainly doing it for show rather than actually trying to get real photos). I then thought I'd play some more Sam&Max Episode 3 until I got stuck but finished it instead. Ooops. Either this was the easiest episode so far or I'm getting better at solving the puzzles. Never mind, much fun regardless.

Today I have been sleeping, eating breakfast, watching a bit of TV and generally vegging about. I need to do a pile of washing up and then find something for dinner before another long evening in front of the TV (Top Gear, 24, Lost) and hopefully bed before midnight.

To those of you who missed Primeval on ITV last night, it's being repeated now (4:30).

Comments

[gbsteve.livejournal.com]

I've alerted simonjrogers for news about Celebrity! I remember seeing several variants but I don't think we ever got round to playing a full game. How did it go?

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Quite well, actually. We only played one game with two players so it definitely wasn't enough for a full review but it worked, felt balanced and the play time wasn't excessive (about half an hour but that was with reading through the rules and the usual pains of getting going in a game none of the players know). I would assume that with more players, the play time will increase as there will be more options for interference but should be fine.
The rules need some proofreading and tightening (which they probably will have in the meantime) but were clear enough. There was a major error in one secion (it said above instead of below) but that was obvious.

Definitely a nice pickup game when you have some time to kill, I'd say.

[a1exxandra.livejournal.com]

dammit - I missed top gear!

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

It was hilarious and scary.

[tobykenobi.livejournal.com]

a) Blood Bowl, oooh haven't played that for ages.... fab game.
b) How did you get involved with the filming? Sounds like fun.
c) Top Gear..... scary.....

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

a) indeed. Last time I played was in 93 or 94? I've got the second editon with the styrofoam board. I even remembered some rules but most of them had been superseded (e.g. tackles are a passive D6 roll now rather than an active attack).
b) belak_krin knows the film people (he did the storyboards for a different production) and passed on the request for extras. It was indeed good fun. Good thing I didn't have any lines, I just had to be an annoying photog flashing my camera into the actor's face. ;o)
c) Definitely the NOLA bit. Not sure how genuine/staged the bit in Alabama was but hick country *is* scary.

[pmoodie.livejournal.com]

What was the film?

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

"Blood on his Hands" but I don't really know much about it.

It's set in the near future and the death penalty has been reintroduced. If someone has been sentenced to death, relatives of the victim have the power to convert the execution to life imprisonment. The main character in the scene is the brother of a murder victim on his way to court (and then leaving again) to give the relevant statement.

[pmoodie.livejournal.com]

I'll keep an eye out for it! :)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

No idea if this is ever going to surface anywhere. It's definitely not a big production.
No matter, it was good fun regardless, even if my face (obscured by my camera) never turns up on the silver or TV screen. :o)

[simonjrogers.livejournal.com]

This project is currently on hold. I still think it's a great idea, but it's a little complex for the market for which I intended it. I wanted to keep a decent element of skill whilst avoiding over-complication. I don't think we reached that goal.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

OK, in that case, I'll consider my NDA still valid. Let me know if you need playtesters. :o)

I don't think it was overly complex nor overly simple compared to similar card games. On the contrary, with the exception of a few unclearly written bits in the rules, it felt remarkably well-balanced for a game in development.