DEUCE OF SPADES hotrod movie - photos and updates

This is a great idea,we all become small investors in a great project,that will have big results,and we get a DVD when it's finished.What do you say HiboyGirl,we know you've got alot on your plate right now,but would this help? Come on everybody,wouldn't it be cool to support a movie about hot rodding,by a hot rodder? Faith you look just fine beside Jim,let us be the judge of that.Nice "traditional"camera stand.LOL

 

Looking good Girl!!
How much time do you have left on the lake?
Do you own anything white?
Lighter clothes and some sunscreen come to mind.
I just don't want you ending up in hospital before this is finished.
Would definitely like to see it premier at a Drive-In.

 

Faith, I love the work you are doing on this film. You are a very talented young lady, and beautiful at that. What's the possibility of getting a first release CD, signed by you, and maybe a movie poster? I'm not sucking up but, there are very few people around who can pull this off and I'm proud of you. Are you going to market the movie direct or is it going through some mega movie production house? I've heard that a lot of producers are going direct to avoid the high dollar distributors and you can save big bucks by doing it. Put me down for a poster and CD, SOLD, I can't wait to see it. Your a real trail blazer and my hat is off to you. Thanks for the update. Are you selling T shirts or anything to raise funds? Count me in if so. Good luck my friend and let us know how we can help.

 

Good ideas, made a note. Thank you for your input!

 

A girl on a mission, this is all very cool!
I'll bring your 'fame' and work overseas a little by posting a link back to this topic and to your site on my own dutch (pre66) forum.

Good luck with this huge but fun undertaking and keep the faith, Faith

 

Hey ChilliPhil, I agree all above are good suggestions. I do have a good number of stock cars lined up for my Saugus scene. The El Mirage scene in the film is incidental (a very quick glance) so we didn't want to use our available stock cars for that scene are saved them for the dragstrip scene instead, which is a long one. El mirage is far for most owners and many are not willing to drive their nice stock cars there because it's near impossible to get rid of that fine magic dry lake dust .... So we grabbed whatever cars were there at the SCTA race and used those. We did have several stock cars but it seems I only have a pic of one of them.

 

MOST URGENTLY NEEDED:

So CAL private property that has a private road with an oak tree. Small strech of road OK, I do not need miles of it, even 30 feet would do. oak tree must be on the side of the road. Road must be flat and straight. I have a very important scene to film and need this BADLY. You must be the property owner, if you rent it I can't use it. that's because I need legal permission from property owner to film the property.

ALSO NEEDED:

private airstrip (see above comments)

EASIER ITEMS I ALSO NEED

1- more cars! stock cars 1955 or earlier and traditional hotrods 1955 or earlier.

2- more extras. Need guys between 15 and 40, clean cuts, to be our 50's hotrodders in flashback scenes. the more the merrier.

3- 50's props (table, CHAIRS, lamps, 1940's phones, vintage cocacola bottles etc etc...). You don't have to donate the props, you can simply let us BORROW them the day of the shoot, (we can also ship them back if you are not local ).

4- 50's looking house (must be local to LA)

5- 40's or 50's looking bedroom (must be local to LA), small OK, simple OK, must have window in it, bed must be wood - this is supposed to be Johnny's bedroom so must look like a guy's room. Need it for one small scene.

If anyone has any of above please PM me. THANKS!

 

This is what I am thinking.... I am hesitant about selling advance copies of a film that is not DONE. Basically hesitant about selling a product that does not yet exist. What if I am unable to complete the project for whatever reason (get stuck under a large heavy object etc )? Let me think of something else I could have available for purchase for those of you who want to help me raise some filming funds... How about a real cool poster... Or T-shirts?

 

YEAH!! You rock. If you can tell me what hotrod magazines / publications exist (if any) in your country that would be helpful to me, if you have their contact info (emails, editor name etc..) that would be even BETTER . PM them to me please THANKS!!!!

 

OK, I'm done replying to everyone, so here are the updates and photos for the day:

UPDATES: Filmed ALL DAY saturday from 8AM until 11PM straight and went to bed without having dinner... Filmed the intro scene with credit rolls and scene TWO of the movie. So far we have been filming out of sequence so it was nice to actually film something from the BEGINNING for a change (sure makes a lot more sense that way!!). Spent over 6 hours UNDER my hotrod which is where scene 2 takes place. The creeper made it a comfortable 6 hours but I now have 50% less HAIR HAHA! We really had a blast filming that scene and I even got to tear my drive shaft out. Then yesterday (Sunday), we went to LACR one last time to see them close the dragstrip permanently. Was a little blue about it, too. I then ran all the way to El Mirage dry lake and scoped out a large private airstrip to film my night scene. Decided that this "might" work OK. Need to talk to owner though... The moon was awesome, peeking behind the clouds, so I filmed that as well (yes I have a moon scene). All in all a good week-end.

PHOTOS:

Thanks to HAMB, we were able to line up two cute kids for the El Mirage scene. The blond one is the kid of one of our members here . he was cute as a button! The kids kicked ass and performed perfect every take. Hats down! Here they are posing next to the DOS after the shoot




The next photo is not a production still, it is a photo of the roadster and me at El Mirage, snapped from atop a ladder. Makes for a nice angle. And yes, in case any of you were wondering, I do do my own work, as much as possible, on my hotrod. Thursday I will be tearing into my center 1968 Rochester carburator which may have some junk stuck in it. I may also be tackling rebuilding it (if it comes down to it), with the guidance of a friend who knows what he's doing (cause I don't - yet ), which sounds like a lot of fun - if you ask me... I used to love carb work. (I remember when I was 16, tearing down my dad's double barrel, cleaning it and putting it back together - but that was a year or two (hu-hum) ago HAHA! Can't remember a thing). So I am looking forward to this project.

 

Love the photos and everything else about this project, but that name "Deuce of Spades" makes it sound hokey.Eh...maybe it won't sound so stupid if I keep saying it....No...not working.

Spike

 

I'm confused (but that's easy) Are you shooting this thing in one go or are you shooting a "trailer" and using that to find a producer/distributor? Lot's of location set-ups with props, actors and extras are going to eat up your time/budget, but you've done this before,right?
So far it looks great; your dedication to keeping this project authentic is awesome!

 

Jim Miller has an uncany resemblance to Hunter S. Thompson in that pic. lol

Looks to be a must have, kudos on undertaking the project.

Passion will take you farther than money.

Best of luck, I'll be waiting for the DVD

GV

 

Hey! Coupla other suggestion here. When I was a kid in LA in the fifties there were a lot of what my pop called "Okie Cars". They were usually 20s or 30s coupes with a home made pick up box built into the trunk area. Since So Cal was the center of war production, both WWII and the Korean Conflict a lot of people moved here for the defense work. Also, there were the Red Cars (Pacific Electric railroad) and the LA Metro streetcars. There is a street car and trolly museum in Redlands that has lots of restored ones of the vintage you are shooting for. Its a strictly volunteer run place. You might contact them for some shoots. Might even be handy for some sky shots with power lines in them. There were a lot of wires, all around in LA and pasadena back then. I know that you'll want to avoid later vintage street lights and power poles.There weren't newspaper machines back then either. LA had 4 daily newspapers, the Times, The Mirror, the Herald and the Examiner. Kids used to stand in the intersections hawking them. I used to make 3¢ profit from each paper. T-shirts had really short sleeves. Beards and goatees were super rare. If you shoot more pics of the kids, you have to get those shoes dirty. Back then we weren't allowed to play in our dress shoes. And kids dug tunnels, made forts and climbed trees, if you what kids to look authentic, they need to be dirtier. I hope this helps a little. You are putting a lot of effort into making it look like it really did. Go all the way.

 

I got two phones

and a green or grey one like this that you may BORROW.

I also have a BUNCH of old very good condition painted label "pop" bottles from the 50's and before? borrow.
They need to be cleaned up a bit (found them buried) but they are cool brands that are now gone. Ill clean them. I also have some early 50's samsonite luggage...I probably have a lot more I just cant think of it right now. Oh yeah and if you need a token fat Mexican for any scenes...

 

I got contact info for Hill Canyon; I'll PM it to you. There are several spots that may work for you. I don't know if the tree I showed in the pics is an oak, but there a several beautiful oak trees further inside the access road that's mostly curvy, with some short straight sections. It's almost all single-lane with White Stripes on the edges.

You can use my old phone, and I can try to look 50's- I'm 40.

Thanks,
Kurt

 

I added more pics (1633-1645) here: http://s164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/sgtlethargic/Hill Canyon - Wildwood Park/

Also, this place (http://www.thebbi.org/loc.htm) might have what you're looking for. I volunteer at an equestrian therapy there on weekends. I can try to take more of a look around for a road with an oak tree this coming weekend. I think Hill Canyon would work well, though.

Thanks,
Kurt

 

Good luck with your film!

 

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Also, for the web site, posters DVD art etc., hire a designer who understands period correct design (I've turned into the resident font cop ). Check out Mark Simonson's blog for some info about type in movies...

http://www.marksimonson.com/?c=Son+of+Typecasting

All the best. I wish I was closer, I'd be happy to get some El Mirage dust on my shoebox.

 

Hi again OK, I have the same wall phone already, but could use the second 50's looking phone. I will be buyiing a 40's phone too which will be mostly used but in one or two scenes it might be nice to have a 50's looking phone instead. I forgot to look before I hit "reply" but are you local to me? the pops bottles would be great. cleaning them no prob. Borrowing would work great. By the way the Bean Bandits have a quick cameo part in my film I cought them at El Mirage the day of the time trials and also got a good shot of their car and logo too which will also end up in the film.

 

Oh no no, I am making the film. so no need for a producer. I will however need distribution when the movie is done. So right now pre-production is almost over and production has started (aka: filming). In the trailer I want my key scenes, and my key scenes are going to be pretty involving (because we are a no budget DIY endeavour) so they will probably be filmed last or down the road a bit, so what this means is that I will not have the trailer for quite some time.

 

the tree is not an oak tree, but from a far distance could do the job. Problem is I could run and gun on that public road for a few shots/ angles and then get the heck out of there quick, but cannot set up to film my entire scene there, unless I got official filming permits which are too costly (no budget means just that: NO dineros to spend on permits) RATS. So one has to be creative and smart... I need privately owned land.

 

RATS X 2 , same problem here, that place rents to movie studios ( per their homepage) so the chances of them allowing little ol' me to film there for free is zero to null... Poeple don't understand the no budget film maker. You say "movue" and they hear "chee-ching!" because they are used to the equation: movie = movie studios = big buck. But we can always try if you have a foot in the door and good relations with the powers to be... I still think I need to find a nice hotrodder that owns a little ranch in the thousand oaks or canyon country or Oxnard area and would welcome us to do the scene there. That would be the most realistic way to do this.

 

Call the guy and see what he has to say, especially since he's also in the city govt., I believe. The land on the tree side is their private property, the other side is a barely used 'park', and there's very little traffic because it deadends at the treatment plant. Plus, the other shots are their private road and property.

Thanks,
Kurt

 

Actually the movie's graphic designs do not need to look 50's, because the movie really is set in 2007, therefore a modern design is more appropriate. If the whole movie took place in 1950;s then that would be an entirely different story (and approach) .

Another important factor: When you guys look at photos you have the time to examine things closely. However, footage does not work that way. Camera moves fast, edits & framing can leave many things out etc... For exemple, the kids in the film are only seen onscreen for a mere few seconds and I honestly don't think we can see their feet at all (and if we do it is not for more than 1 second). during that second the audience is going to look at all the cars, at Johnny Callaway and listen to the dialogue between him and the kids. No one is going to be able to find the time to scope the kids shoes out (and that is, as I said - if their shoes are even visible at all).

In short what you see in the photos of the set / cast is not what the audience sees on screen, so I guess just keep that in mind. But by all means do keep suggestions coming, they are always helpful to me and I appreciate the input.

 

UPDATES:

May have found a young intern to help with camera work and production assistant work. She is quite talented and very passionate about film making. I hope it works out, will know today for sure. We did a shoot together yesterday and it went real good, except that our baby pigeon did not want to cooperate and kept running off frame . he really pissed me off because I had a difficult travelling shot to do and he had to stay still for at least 6 seconds for me to complete my shot... well.. No sirry no can do. After 30 min or running after the bird I was ready to look up pigeon recipees . Finally we got him to lay there for 10 seconds and I was able to film the one shot. It was a fun shoot, but we lost daylight because of my temperamental feathered "actor". I'll have to do pick ups later this week to finish this short scene.

I may have secured a 1941 packard working ambulance . Keep your fingers crossed for me. It belongs to a local museum so it is cool that they believe in the project enough to be willing to entertain the idea of sending the ambulance out for one shoot, free of charge. I'll let you know if it pans out.

PHOTOS

These are not production stills. They are part of the Johnny Callaway "collection" from the photoshoot we did at El Mirage to help promote the movie. We did this quick photoshoot at he end of our actual shoot the same day we filmed him driving across the lake at sunset. I hope you enjoy them.

ABOUT THE ACTOR: Eric Callero stars as Johnny Callaway. He is a young actor from the San Fransisco area who already has quite a few movies under his belt. He also was the guitar player for the rockabilly band "Keen Cousins" for several years. He collects vinyls and simply loves the 50's era. He did not have to change his look in any way to be in the film, that's just the way he looks on a daily basis in everyday life. When he sent me his head shots I thought to myself: "Well, if this is not Johnny Callaway then I don't know who is". I was however worried that being a handsome lad he might not be a good actor. So I gave him the toughest section of the film for the audition and he passed with flying colors. In short, the boy has the looks but he also has the talent to back them up!

 

Posters and/ or T-shirts would work,although presale might work if people knew it was an investment risk upfront,especially as you are this far into the project.

 

UPDATES:

I NEED OLD TIMERS - local to my area (Los Angeles) that would want to have a quick 5 to 10 seconds part in the film.

I need both men (mostly) but also a few ladies. So if i could borrow your wives too, that would be swell. You must be late 60's to mid 70's and be willing to say one or two lines of dialogues. if you have a nice rod you want to also showcase I will film you standing in front of it. Note that it will be a tight shot, so only a small part of the car may be visible on screen. Filming will take only about 10 min. You may appear in the movie for about 2 to 10 seconds. Please be aware that this is NOT a documentary so you will be asked to say something predetermined about Johnny who is a fictional character. So basically you will be "acting" (sorta). It will only be one or two lines.

Anyone who can help me with this please email me here: sitarfaith@aol.com

I am at Bob's Big Boy every friday afternoon / evening so we could shoot it there.

ALSO: I am sorry I have not had a chance to check my PM in a week. I am spread extremely thin right now, so bare with me, I am not ignoring you guys and will try to get to them tomorrow . I did however reply to all my incoming DOS (Deuce OF Spades) regular emails. Thanks to those who emailed me to contribute with their cars and also thanks to those who sent me nice emails of support. It makes going to bed without having had the chance to have dinner (again) a little more bareable .

PHOTOS

Today I am sharing a couple cool fisheye shots of the DOS on the dry lake bed. Gotta love those guide lights! Pretty cool.

 

hey faith, it´s good to hear your work is going on and on.
suppose we will not meet in bonneville, let us know about your proceeding, so we give your film a media coverage in germany too.
soory, but I´m not make it to LA this year.
wolfy the aviator