Post - Post Production
(December - August)
December 12th 2002 - We had to re-shoot a conversation scene between Isaac & Angel at Tadeo's apartment. This scene was shot already (& a bit of it appears in the trailer) but it was unusable due to some camera flair showing up on the right side of the frame. Something that couldn't be fixed so it had to be re-shot. It was extremely cold this day & the end of the scene takes place on Tadeo's outside back porch. We had the guys suck on ice before the takes so you wouldn't see their breaths on film. It worked just fine.
Spring 2003 - Well we complete a rough-cut version of the film & it's not too bad, but it needs work. As it stands it clocks in at a little over an hour. Tadeo & I converse about the length of the film. Tadeo stated that at this length it's hard to promote or play at festivals. It's not a short film & it's not exactly a feature either. Somewhat of a concern but that was all taken care of after Tadeo made another appearance on the Public Access TV show Latino Spirit. There he met with Chicago Latino director Juan Fausto ('Driveby' & 'Westside') & they discussed our film. Juan told him if we shot another couple scenes we can submit the film as a feature. That way it would also be easier for distribution. Well, why not we figured. After a few conversations Tadeo & I created three new scenes. These include a scene involving Angel & his mother, Isaac & his sister, & Reaper finding out that Angel was a member of the Latin Kings. I went to work on writing these scenes out & completed some really dramatic additions to our film. We also need to shoot a whole bunch of little bits & pieces of coverage that will make it look like a complete film. These new scenes were going to shot on Tadeo's new digital camera instead of 16mm film. Will the new takes match what we already shot? They sure do.
May 22 2003 - The first scene shot was of Reaper's discovery that Angel used to run with the Latin Kings. He is told this by Two-Six gang member Niko, played by actor Jimmy Borras Jr, on a stormy night in the middle of a barren parking lot which happened to be shot at a Pepe's restaurant. The crew included Tadeo, his friend Eddie & myself. We set up one light angled at a brick wall & a small Mini Flow inside the car to give a nice red glow to the scene. For our rain we created a poor man's storm, which was one of us holding up a hose letting the water fall onto the car where needed. Robert Rodriquez would have been proud. For flashes of lightening I used two camera flash strobes. Once set up Donato Cruz & Jimmy Borras ran through their scene & within two hours it was as they say in the can. Tadeo & I congratulated each other realizing how well we did (& could do) just by ourselves.
May 23 2003 - The second additional scene shot was in Angel's apartment by Tadeo & yours truly again (who needs a crew?). Angel's mother is to visit him in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm with some important news. This sets up a bit more background to Angel's life & how his relationship with his mother is compared to Isaac & his. Beatriz Jamaica plays Angel's mother & after a few rehearsals we started to shoot. To our luck it stormed that night during shooting & we were able to take advantage of the rain & thunder. The scene went off without a hitch & we wrapped for the night.
May 24th 2003 - Adelina Quinones joins our cast as Isaac's older sister Laura who happens to work for the court system. A courtroom setting is needed & I turn to my old buddy Martin Williams who works at DePaul University & after a few letters we shoot our scene in one of the DePaul courtrooms. Tadeo decided to shoot this entire scene handheld to give it a more claustrophobic & urgent feeling. Isaac's world is collapsing at this point in the film, a mouse in a maze with nowhere to turn for help. By noon we were finished & Tadeo went to work on editing the scenes that evening. With the three additional scenes we've added about 15 minutes more to our film. But we still need to shoot more coverage.
June 2003 - Tadeo gets another digital camera (a better one) & lets me use the second camera to get whatever I can for coverage. This was because Tadeo is too busy at the restaurant to just run out & shoot if something looks good at a certain time. We really needed some thunderstorm shots of lightening & Chicago was having a lot of rain lately. One day in particular I was out in the rain shooting away, including being chased away from Midway airport (thinking I was a terrorist?). I also took a Saturday out & went to 26th streets Little Village & got a few good shots. The best thing I was able to get though was a shot of a Harvest moon raising in the night sky. Very lucky to get that shot but wished I could have gotten more only an approaching drunk who didn't look to friendly frightened me.
After a few more conversations with Tadeo we decided to change the opening to the film. Something was missing the way it started now so I went to work writing out an opening scene for our film. It's a great little scene that introduces Isaac & Angel to the audience the proper way. Just being themselves talking to each other while sitting in a parked car. That might seem pretty boring but it works so well & gives a subliminal foreshadowing to the film. It also sets up the audience's feelings for the characters. We know who they are now & we like them. This scene will also include our only cameo appearance from our original award winning film 'Broken Warning'. Perry Flores, who was the 'Narc' character in that film is written in this scene as Officer Dorvak, a cop who pesters Angel.
July 17th 2003 - Shooting Coverage Pt 1: Tadeo & I head out this morning & get some great miscellaneous shots of the Little Village area on 26th St, the graffiti covered area of 18th street & some peaceful neighborhood shots. We also almost get attacked by some real gang members we happen across around 63rd & Kedzie. I spotted them & told Tadeo to go around & go down a one way street so I can shoot (film) them. He does but a little too fast, so I tell him to go again slower. Well this is where they really noticed us looking directly into the camera, great shot! Too bad another car was coming our way & we had to pull over to let it go by. I don't know if those guys were coming after us but we didn't look back. As soon as we were clear Tadeo punched it & we were out of there. Gorilla filmmaking at it's finest.
July 19th 2003 - We shoot the opening scene of the film of Isaac & Angel's conversation in front of my house. Tadeo brings the video assist so we can see what were shooting on a monitor to make things easier. After a few takes the scene is complete & we head back over to Cycle Tech Motorcycle Repair to get a few snapshots of Angel sitting on a bike for a photo to be used in the film. We also take a few pictures of Officer Dorvak arresting Angel to be used in a newspaper clipping that Reaper sees when he finds out Angel was in the LK's. While we were taking these shots a real Summit patrol car drove up telling us to knock it off because we were causing a distraction to the nearby Harlem Avenue traffic. Actually the officer was a good friend of the owner of Cycle Tech & allowed us to get a few shots of Dorvak arresting Angel against his squad car. A real Trooper. We round out the day by getting a few insert shots & reactions for the opening chase scene & shots of Isaac & Angel driving around shot from the back of Tadeo's van & from the camera mounted on the side of the ol' Jabba Mobile.
July 24th 2003 - Tadeo & I work on the film at the restaurant. He already had the opening scene completely edited & nothing had to be changed on it. It is perfect! Next up was to fix the opening chase scene in the film. This was pretty much a mess as it stood. Between the two of us we transformed the scene into something totally entertaining. This scene is now complete. Unfortunately that was all we could work on because the tape that contained the coverage shots we did went missing. Tadeo tore apart his van & office but could not find it. A saboteur in our midst trying to screw with our film? Don't know, but that tape was gone. We decided to head out next week again to shoot more coverage, again. We then met up with Tony & went to the 26th street courthouse to get a few exterior shots of Isaac after his conversation with his sister. Completing the day we shot Isaac driving around town to be inserted throughout the film.
August 07th 2003 - Coverage Pt 2: Tadeo & I head out again to shoot coverage; an establishing shot of the house Isaac parks in front of, the city skyline from the expressway & just things seen while driving around 18th street. With luck we were able to get a shot of some real gang banger's this time & right after, we were almost involved in an accident. I got stuck in an intersection while waiting for a man to cross & some idiot in a hurry came at me without slowing down. He stopped just in time & Tadeo was fortunate to have the camera on. Something to put in the blooper reel. We were also able to get a shot of a local symbol that walks around the Little Village area from time to time. He's a guy who's dresses as Jesus in a long red robe & carries a large cross on his back. I'm not lying, he's out there. Unfortunately he's a fast walker because when we went around the block to get a second take he was gone. But we did get a little of him & he'll be in our film.
August 14th 2003 - Tadeo & I work on editing the film for five hours! But the thing is really coming together. A couple more days like this & it's ShowTime!
August 23th 2003 - Another long & exhausting day of editing between Tadeo & myself - From 10am to 7pm! The film is really looking great now. It really looks great! Also today we meet up with the artists Maurice Steele & Edward Rollins of rap group Gamespittaz again to discuss putting their hard ass Rap music in our film. We show them the opening & some other scenes & they are blown away by it & their kick ass music would fit right in to the film. September 27 is the day set for our premiere to all the cast & close family & friends. Times are moving right along!
August 28th 2003 - 'Good times, good times' - Tadeo & I head out to DePaul University & check out the screening location for our Premier (test screening). Thanks to my buddy Martin Williams we scheduled a room on the second floor & set up the day & time. Heading back to our editing location we stop off at a few spots around the city to get some more coverage shots. You wouldn't believe how much 'filler' is needed for a film like this. All those little quick shots you see in a film that don't mean anything but set a tone for your film. The more you get the better you have to choose from. Once back we talk with Michael Cortez (Angel) & discuss the movie's poster & our Iconoclast film logo which he is designing. Quite a talented man he is, wait till you see them. Sunday is scheduled for one more day of shooting to add a 'little' more to our final scene in the film. One month to go before our big premiere!
August 29th 2003 - Tadeo is interviewed along with filmmakers Dalia Tapia & Juan Fausto about their movies, independent film & to announce the premiere of 'On The Downlow' on WRTE 90.5 FM Radio ARTE in Chicago at noon.
August 29th 2003 - Spent another day of editing with Tadeo. Completed the complete opening credits sequence & some other scenes. Met with the great Chicago filmmaker Juan Fausto & talked about his films & the distribution of ours. He's backing us all the way & willing to help us find a way to distribute our film! Tomorrow's scheduled includes a few pickups for the final scene of the film. Will report when all is done.
August 30th 2003 - After rushing home from work I meet up with Tadeo & begin to get things ready for today's shoot (hopefully the last of it!). Tony & Michael (Isaac & Angel) arrive & we do some photo shots to be used in the film's final poster design. Then we went to work taking a few shots that were needed to 'fill out' the end scene of the film. This included a 'new' added portion of this scene with Donato (Reaper) which neither Tony or Michael know about, they in fact have to wait for the premiere to find out what we've added (not really). A great many secret will be reviled the night of the 27th.
September 02 2003 - This morning I receive via email our completed poster design created by Michael Cortez (Angel). It is outstanding. I also receive our new animated Iconoclast Films logo for the opening of the film. Fantastic! A slight alteration to it & it will be complete. Later after work I rush home to take some night coverage shots with Tadeo (will this never end?). Tonight we shot fireworks & shots of Isaac's car (the Jabbamobile) driving by colorful fountains & M80's!! Tomorrow we check out the proofs for our posters & postcards. They will then be available on Monday. Thursday is set for the next editing day!
September 06 2003 - Another outstandingly long day of editing (9am - 8pm). As always everything is going great & working to completion by the 27th for the premiere. Tomorrow we screen the film to Michael, Tony & Donato (Isaac, Angel & Reaper) for the first time. Up to this point they've only seen a real rough cut of the film without sound effects & music.
September 07 2003 - We get together & view the film as it is to Michael & Tony. It's great! Afterwards we discuss the insides & outs of the film, picking out little subliminal nuances within it. This is coming along great!
September 08 - 15 2003 - Well the premiere is quickly approaching & Tadeo & I are feverishly working our asses off to complete the film. Within this time we went out & shot some more coverage to insert into the film (including waiting a half hour for a train to show up to get a cool locomotive shot). We also receive the flyers & posters to the film. Outstanding work by actor/artist Michael Cortez. We start dropping them off at various locations & businesses to promote the film. On a sad note Tadeo received a boot on his car & had to pay a whooping sum to have it removed.
September 18 2003 - Another day of editing & I persist in getting certain scenes that need major reworking fixed. After some prompting Tadeo complies & the scenes look much better than they have before. We meet with another Chicago Rap artist Black Reign. They really rock & their music will definitely be in the film. Today we also act a guinea pigs for a new dish to be served at the Mello Yellow restaurant - Eggplant Sandwiches. Yummy! No really they were great!
September 20 2003 - Spent another day at the restaurant trying to complete the film. 'Major' editing is complete but there still needs a bit of tweaking here & there on it. The biggest problem of the day was trying to get a certain font to work for the opening credits. This was given up on & we still have to fix the problem because for some reason it's not working in the film. A few more 'little' shots are needed & we plan to complete them tomorrow night. This with the premiere looming over us now six days away. Will we finish in time?
Monday - September 22 2003 - Six days & counting to our premiere & this evening Tadeo & I ventured out to shoot some more footage for the film. I know, 'Your still filming this movie!!?' Well yes, but today was the last of it. We are officially finished, done, complete, no more, kaput, the end, it's over Johnny, totally & undeniably done with shooting on this film. As the movie stands now it is 99.8 percent completed & by tomorrow it will be 100 percent finished. And what a long haul it was. Shooting began on April 24th 2002 & completed September 22 2003. But just wait until you see it. It's so beautiful! An excellent original drama developed by the creative minds of the Bean & Rice of iconoclast Films - Tadeo Garcia & Roger B. Domian. Saturday's the day... Five days & counting. And oh yeah, this morning i get a call from Tadeo who tells me he had a terrible nightmare about the premiere going all wrong. I just laughed because just last week i had a similar dream. Nah...Everything's going to go right. Right?
Tuesday - September 23 2003 - I stop on by & pick up the 'Mini' posters from Mr. Cortez. They are fantastic as ever. It is planned that these are to be given out at the premiere (and other places). Tadeo begins a protected 'Time-code' copy of the film to be sent to certain companies in order to get music rights. This process takes most of the day. Four days to go to the premiere!!!!!
Wednesday - September 24 2003 - Tadeo stops by to pick up the 'Mini-posters. Along the way he tells me that AM Radio station WVON is talking about our premiere! He was also to meet with filmmaker Dalia Tapia for an interview with Telemundo Television but a miscommunication delayed the meeting. It is set up for Thursday. Three days to the premiere!!!!
Thursday - September 25 2003 - I meet up with Tadeo & we head out scurrying the many shops of Little Village to find some rosaries. These are going to be given out at the premiere tacked onto the 'mini' posters to the first arriving guests. Afterwards we head to the restaurant for editing but get backed up when the Telemundo interview approaches. We meet at Columbia College & they interview Dalia about her new film & independent filmmaking in general. Tadeo gives them the press release of our film & they plan on attending the premiere. Now it's time to head over to Midway Airport to pick up musical composer Gregory Martin. Then over to Giordano's for a pizza dinner over some film-making conversation. Michael Cortez (Angel) meets us there & we head back to Tadeo's house to get some of Michael's lines dubbed for the film. A very busy day indeed but nothing was worked on the film. Not even a trailer we wanted to complete, so tomorrow is added to the scheduled so we can finalize this film. Two days to the premiere!!!
Friday - September 26 2003 - I pick up our composer Gregory Martin & we head out to the restaurant for a final look & fix of the film. There are only a few small things that needed repair - dubbing, sound FX mixing, etc. When I leave the restaurant the film is officially complete. Unfortunately for the premiere we won't be able to use the music we want in the film until we get licensing permission from the artists. Hopefully we will for future screenings. Today we also once again acted as guinea pigs for a new dish to be served at the Mello Yellow restaurant - Shrimp Alfrado & pasta. Real yummy! Tomorrow's the big day!!
Saturday - September 27 2003 - The first time I really got excited about the premiere of our film (that was happening tonight) was when I received a call from my buddy in Hollywood Vince Vieluf (Grind, Rat Race, Clay Pigeons) who called wishing me all the luck with the film & it's premiere. After our quick conversation everything started to speed up, rushing me to the 6 o'clock hour for the first public viewing of 'On The Downlow'. Unbelievable! It's finally here! And what a night it was!
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Copyright ©2003 Roger B. Domian