Post Production
(August - November)
August 1st 2002 - Receive a call from Tadeo in California & swiftly call him back. According to him all is going well in the development stage. When I spoke to him he was right in the middle of getting all the shots 'color timed' to look as we wanted. This is a process that can be added after a film is shot to give the look of a scene an orange hue, or darken scenes that were filmed during the day to look like they take place at night. Our conversation was quick but it does look like all is going well. More later as I hear back from him.
August 6th 2002 - Tadeo returns to Chicagoland with great news! It's all complete & looks great! But alas as with everything something did not come out as planned. The crucial conversation scene between Isaac & Angel that takes place after their visit to the store just cannot be used. Seems some light leaked into the camera while shooting ruining the entire scene. Tadeo & I discuss that reshooting of that scene will have to take place, along with a few 'little' bits of coverage. But the majority of the film is complete, & looks great according to the Tad-ster. We will have a complete screening of the rushes sometime next week & I'll be sure to report here afterwards.
August 21st 2002 - I receive a copy of the rushes to view for myself. A full six hours of footage was shot. After viewing them all I was nearly in tears - They are so damned beautiful!! I just could not believe how great everything turned out. True there still are a few little things we need to shoot to complete the shooting but my God, we really have a great looking film here. Tadeo tells me he will start editing as soon as he can.
August 29th 2002 - I arrive at Mello Yellow Restaurant in Hyde Park around 1pm. There I am led downstairs past cooks in the kitchen & the mops in the cleaning closet. This adventure ends in a small office below the restaurant where he has set up an editing station to work on the film as well as keep up with the restaurant duties. Set up is a brand new Apple computer complete with a large widescreen plasma monitor. This is where 'On The Downlow' is being edited. Reason being is that he spends so much time there at the restaurant he could easily work on the film in his spare time. He jokes about it saying "If director Robert Rodriquez can edited 'Spy Kids 2' on a computer in his own garage, I could do it too." Tadeo's using Final Cut Pro to master the work & from the look of some of the scenes he's already completed everything going along great. The scenes I looked at were the Church visit, Angel working at Cycle Tech, & the argument between Isaac & his mom. These turned out looking so great & professional I complimented Tadeo on how well he was doing. Being the perfectionist he is he scoffs my compliment off saying they still need work. Always the unsatisfied artist. During my visit I help work out a tricky editing problem of Isaac arriving at the party In the background of the scene you can clearly see studio lights, electrical cords & a large flat leaning against the wall. I tell Tadeo that most people won't even see that stuff & those that do will only think that the flat is just a folding table leaning against the wall, and the electrical cords are there because of all the party lights hanging in the yard. He agrees with me & a cool shot is saved from being thrown on the editing room floor (in this case the computer's recycling bin). One cool thing that Tadeo noticed while editing portions of the film is all the little subliminal context there is in the film. Some of the way the film was shot or framed contains extra meaning not noticed until now once the film is put together. I'm sure there is going to be so much talk after viewing of the completed film. Yes Tadeo seems to have everything under control here & I told him that at the rate he's working we should have a first rough cut of the film by mid September. This will be perfect because once that is done it can be sent out to California to our composer Gregory Martin where he will score the film. Yes, this film is sure to be a winner!
September 19th 2002 – I meet up with the members of the rap group Gamespittaz at Pepe’s restaurant on 63rd & Kedzie. It’s my first meeting with the artists Maurice Steele & Edward Rollins. We spend about an hour talking over the film & just what kind of music we would need in the film. Maurice knew exactly what we need & really understands the way ‘songs’ in films should coincide with the various scenes & not just thrown in for an effect. The way I look at it there will be possibly seven places in the film where we would need their music & I explain what those scenes are & how it should effect the film. Shortly after I was led to Edwards’s car where I was treated to their music. I’m not sure if this is the correct terminology to review their Rap music, but these guys rock! I heard about five of their tunes & was blown away by their talent. Using their music in our film will add so much, as well as give the Gamespittaz some righteous exposure out there when the film will be screened. I give them Tadeo’s number & tell them to give him a call to set up our next meeting.
September 25th 2002 – I talk to Tadeo from his editing workshop in the bowels of Mello Yellow restaurant. He tells me that he received a call from Maurice Steele of Gamespittaz & arranged to have them contact me for a second interview that will include Tadeo. I will call them tomorrow to set something up & to see what they thought of the script. Tadeo is continuing on the films edit as we speak & he informs me that he’s linked three scenes together (Isaac's argument with his mom, the meeting with Reaper in the park, & Isaac trying to get Angel on the phone). Tomorrow I’m stopping by the restaurant to look over the edit & add anything I can to help out.
September 26th 2002 – I meet up with Tadeo at the restaurant. There I watch a few more scenes that he has edited. They are looking great! I add a few of my ideas & we make a couple of little changes. Then I let Tadeo listen to the sample CD that I received from our score composer Gregory Martin. Some he didn't care for, other tracks are just perfect for the film. He instantly placed them along certain scenes & it was like magic! Editing is moving along somewhat slow, but soon, we will have celluloid magic!
November 14th 2002 - After a few poster ideas for our film came our way created by Michael Cortez, who plays Angel in our film, I think we have a winner. At least I think we should use it, but Tadeo isn't happy with it. Click 'here' to see the version I liked. The other two posters that Michael designed can be seen by clicking 'here'. Other than that a work print cut of the film was completed & sent out to composer Gregory Martin in California to work on the music. Re-shoots of one particular scene & a couple of pick-up shots are scheduled to be shot mid December.
November 24th 2002 - Receive a call from Tadeo asking me to work out a script for a trailer (preview) to the film. I go to work & make out a listing of shots to use in it. I feel it has to consist of a bunch of quick shots that doesn't give too much away. This is then book ended by some dialogue that the priest speaks to Isaac. That night I email Tadeo the script.
November 25th 2002 - Tadeo calls me & tells me that he's been working on the trailer all morning but needs me to stop by to help him out on it to make it just right. After work I head over to his restaurant & find out that what Tadeo has done is pretty much perfect. He did add some dialogue shots but it all works out great. I have him change a few things & it's complete.
November 26th 2002 - Tadeo drops a bomb & notifies me that we are going to be interview about our film on TV! It's going to be run on public access & is going to be taped on Thursday. This is a great opportunity to promote our film.
November 27th 2002 - Showtime! Tadeo, Anthony Sancho (Isaac) & myself are interviewed on the public access show 'Latino Spirit' hosted by Dalia Tapia. Unfortunately Michael Cortez (Angel) could not attend due to rehearsals for an up coming stage production he's in. This was taped & will be shown in the Chicagoland area in a few weeks. The interview went along great although there wasn't really enough time to get into all the aspects of the film. We are scheduled to make a second appearance once the film is complete. During the show, behind the scenes clips were shown as well as our trailer for the film. Some great promotion indeed!
December 04 2002 - Tadeo Garcia is interviewed on a radio station about the film. Unfortunately it's on a Spanish speaking station & hopefully it will be translated & available here soon. Also, check out the Public Access show 'Latino Spirit' which airs at 6:30pm on Thursday December 19th. This is the show that Tadeo, Anthony Sancho & myself were on being interviewed about our movie. CANTV is on channel 19 on your basic cable network & not listed in the TV Guide. Just look for CANTV - Chicago Access Network Television.
December 10th 2002 - A Re-shoot of a major scene & a few pickup shots are scheduled for this coming Saturday (12/14). Hopefully the weather will not screw things up - like snow!
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Copyright ©2002 Roger B. Domian