BEHIND THE SCENES: ON THE BACK STREETS

This entry was posted on 11/21/2006 2:26 PM and is filed under production.

Low budget features generally avoid filming night exteriors because they are so expensive but working with UNITED RENTALS opened up night exteriors to us by providing their light tower that makes it possible to film large scenes at night at an unbeatable price. We had the light tower for a few days so we tried to make the most of it while it was available.

First, we filmed "Lionel" our main character burning down as many buildings where the Diseased nested all over town that we could film. We even lit up the entire downtown skyline for a remarkable shot of Lionel (played by Santiago Craig) shouting over the flames of the whole city on fire. Then we filmed at City Hall and even did a composited stunt of Lionel throwing a mutant off the roof to splatter on the street below. We also filmed quite a bit of street fighting in the back alleys around downtown. We then filmed at the historic Hotel Congress, both outside as well as in a room.

Last, we topped ourselves with with a complex action scene where an SUV, our production truck actually, is used as an improvised bomb when Lionel puts a corpse behind the wheel and pegs the gas pedal so it plows into a group of mutants who get enraged and pull the corpse from the vehicle, only to discover too late that they were tricked once the bomb goes off and sends them flying offscreen.

How we accomplished that was make a CG model of our truck then lock the camera down to film the real truck, the flying stuntmen and the explosion as a series of individual plate shots which will be animated and composited in Post Production to build an unforgettable effect.

Below are some behind the scenes photos from those nights:

 
Michael Hojjattie Assistant Directing on this night, gelling the light tower lamps with red 26 gels.
James Arnett and Michael Hojjattie gelling the light tower lamps with red 26 gels.
Michael Hojjattie using duct tape in place of gaffers tape we couldn't afford.
Michael Hojjattie and James Arnett gelling the light tower lamps with red 26 gels.
Michael Hojjattie raising the light tower mast.
James Arnett explaining how to operate the light tower to Michael Hojjattie outside of the Steinfeld warehouse.
The gelled light tower lamps at the top of the mast.
Michael Hojjattie bouncing fill light onto Actor Santiago Craig.
Actor Santiago Craig with Michael Hojjattie and James Arnett, about to film the first scene in the burning down of the Warehouse District montage.
Actor Santiago Craig with Michael Hojjattie and James Arnett, about to film the first scene in the burning down of the Warehouse District montage.
Actor Santiago Craig relaxing between running and gunning almost a dozen locations.
James Arnett and Michael Hojjattie setting up for the burning plate shots of the Lucky Street Studios.
James Arnett and Michael Hojjattie filming Actor Santiago Craig pouring gasoline over the warehouses.
Michael Hojjattie with Actor Santiago Craig for another scene pouring gasoline over warehouses.
Actor Santiago Craig pouring gasoline over the Sangin warehouse.
Actors Santiago Craig relaxing after filming at a half dozen locations that night.
James Arnett and Michael Hojjattie setting up at yet another location.
James Arnett filming Actor Santiago Craig at the Firestone Building.
Michael Hojjattie raising the light tower mast on the top level of the Parkwise parking structure.
Filming high at the top level of theParkwise parking structure over looking downtown Tucson.
Lighting the entire downtown section of Tucson using the light tower.
James Arnett filming Actor Santiago Craig against the backdrop of the lit up city.
FX Makeup Artist Danny Hernandez applying prosthetics to Actress Deanna Martinez.
Actor Santiago Craig saying hello to my little friend as we go over the basic operation of the Last Man Rifle that I custom built specifically for this movie.
Actor Ben Psalms in the staging area, awaiting the application of his FX makeup.
Actors Armando Franco and John Marken in the staging area.
Actress Deanna Martinez in the makeup chair.
Actress Deanna Martinez going through waredrobe arranged by Sandy Distel.
Actress Dominque Borrego going through makeup by FX Makeup Artist Danny Hernandez.
Makeup FX Supervisor Frank Guerra applying prosthetics to Actor Armando Franco.
Actress Dominque Borrego going through makeup.
James Arnett directing Actor Santiago Craig up on the roof of a building.
Sandy Distel padding up Actress/Stuntwoman Dominique Borrego for being dragged down the steps of City Hall.
FX Makeup Artist Danny Hernandez working on Actress Zelli Rivera for the City Hall scene.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working on Actor Armando Franco for the alley scene.
Actors John Marken and Ben Psalms helping Actor Santiago Craig to get up on the roof.
The light tower we rented from United Rentals byt calling (800)UR-RENTS.
The light tower illuminating the alley and the roof.
The light tower illuminating the alley and the roof.
James Arnett lowering the light tower mast.
The light tower is mobile and versatile enough to pickup night shots anywhere within minutes. We filmed that scene while our Actors were going through makeup.
Makeup FX Supervisor Frank Guerra's mutant factory.
FX Makeup Artist Danny Hernandez working on Actress Sandy Distel for the City Hall scene.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working on Actor John Marken for the roof fall scene.
Removing the retainer pin from the light tower mast.
Removing the retainer pin from the light tower mast.
James Arnett raising the light tower mast.
James Arnett raising the light tower mast.
James Arnett locking the light tower mast.
James Arnett locking the light tower mast.
James Arnett pulling out the diesel generator key.
Starting the diesel generator that powers the lamps.
Throwing the breakers that ignite the lamps.
The light tower aimed at another rooftop.
Actor Santiago Craig filming up on the Artfare roof.
Actor Santiago Craig filming up on the Artfare roof.
Actor Santiago Craig coming down from the Artfare roof.
Makeup FX Supervisor Frank Guerra putting the finishing touches on Actress Sandy Distel.
Actor Ben Psalms in the staging area, awaiting the application of his FX makeup.
Makeup FX Supervisor Frank Guerra's mutant factory.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working on Actor Ben Psalms for the roof fall scene.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working in stages on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working in stages on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working in stages on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working in stages on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working in stages on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working in stages on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working in stages on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working in stages on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working in stages on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working in stages on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working in stages on Actor Ben Psalms.
Actor Ben Psalms in full makeup and wardrobe.
Actors Ben Psalms and John Marken in full makeup and wardrobe.
Settting the outriggers to support the light tower outside of City Hall.
Removing the retaining pin from the light tower mast outside of City Hall.
Raising the light tower mast outside of City Hall.
Adjusting the lamp angles of the light tower outside of City Hall.
Raising the light tower mast outside of City Hall.
Lighting up the light tower outside of City Hall.
Actress/Stuntwoman Dominique Borrego playing a corpse.
Actress/Stuntwoman Dominique Borrego playing a corpse.
Filming outside of City Hall.
James Arnett filming Actor Santiago Craig dragging Actress/Stuntwoman Dominique Borrego down the steps of City Hall.
James Arnett directing the Cast of mutants for the City Hall scene.
Actor Santiago Craig ready to drag Actress/Stuntwoman Dominique Borrego down the steps of City Hall.
James Arnett directing Actors John Marken and Ben Psalms for the roof fall scene.
James Arnett directing Actors John Marken and Ben Psalms for the roof fall scene.
James Arnett directing Actors John Marken and Ben Psalms for the roof fall scene.
Actor Santiago Craig in position to be filmed from the street below.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying blood on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying blood on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying blood on Actor Ben Psalms.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying blood on Actor Ben Psalms.
Actor Ben Psalms.ready to look like he just fell from the roof.
Actor Ben Psalms.climbing up to the Artfare roof.
Actor Santiago Craig on the roof of Artfare.
Filming Actors Santiago Craig and Ben Psalms on the roof of Artfare.
Filming Actors Santiago Craig and Ben Psalms on the roof of Artfare.
Filming Actors Santiago Craig and Ben Psalms on the roof of Artfare.
Filming Actors Santiago Craig and Ben Psalms on the roof of Artfare.
The roof of Artfare was lit from above with the light tower parked on the top floor of the Parkwise structure next door with the mast hung over the edge.
James Arnett lighting the room at the Hotel Congress.
James Arnett lighting the room at the Hotel Congress.
James Arnett lighting the room at the Hotel Congress.
James Arnett filming Actor Santiago Craig in the room at the Hotel Congress.
James Arnett filming Actor Santiago Craig in the room at the Hotel Congress.
James Arnett filming Actor Santiago Craig in the room at the Hotel Congress.
James Arnett filming Actor Santiago Craig in the room at the Hotel Congress.
James Arnett filming Actor Santiago Craig in the room at the Hotel Congress.
Actors Julio Garcia, Fausto Olmos, Zelli Rivera and Hamilton Rolf in the staging room of the Hotel Congress.
Sarah Aguilar with Actors Julio Garcia, Fausto Olmos in the staging room at the Hotel Congress.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra working on Actors Julio Garcia and Fausto Olmos.
Actors Hamilton Rolf and Zelli Rivera taking direction.
Filming Actors Julio Garcia, Zelli Rivera, Hamilton Rolf, Dominique Borrego and Fausto Olmos.
Filming Actors Julio Garcia, Zelli Rivera and Fausto Olmos.
Actors Zelli Rivera, Hamilton Rolf, Dominique Borrego and Fausto Olmos with James Arnett in the room at the Hotel Congress.
James Arnett filming the Actors entering the hotel.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying a base to Actor/Stunt Coordinator Robert Linden.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying a base to Actor/Stunt Coordinator Robert Linden.
Makeup FX Artist Danny Hernandez applying prosthetics to Actor/Stuntman Gerrin Ard.
Makeup FX Artist Danny Hernandez applying prosthetics to Actor/Stuntman Gerrin Ard.
James Arnett directing Actor Santiago Craig.
The prop dynamite was made out of road flares and electrical tape and the radio trigger is one of our production radios.
.The prop dynamite was made out of road flares and electrical tape and the radio trigger is one of our production radios.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying makeup to Actor/Stunt Coordinator Robert Linden.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying makeup to Actor/Stunt Coordinator Robert Linden.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying makeup to Actor/Stunt Coordinator Robert Linden.
Makeup FX Artist Danny Hernandez applying prosthetics to Actor/Stuntman Gerrin Ard.
James Arnett directing Actor Manny Ruvalcaba.
James Arnett lightting the basement stairway using a single dish lamp pointed straight down for a high key lighting effect.
James Arnett lightting the basement stairway using a single dish lamp pointed straight down for a high key lighting effect.
James Arnett lightting the basement stairway using a single dish lamp pointed straight down for a high key lighting effect.
The camera flash wiped out most of the high key lighting effect but you can see enough to get the idea.
A high key lighting effect draws out all of the great textures out of the stone walls and rims the Actor too.
Filming Actor Santiago Craig climbing out of the basement he's about to burn with gasoline.
Filming Actor Santiago Craig climbing out of the basement he's about to burn with gasoline.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden and James Arnett plan the stunts so they mesh with the digital effects.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden coming up with several variations of falls which will be composited at greater speeds and heights for the explosion.
Stuntman Gerrin Ard practicing his falls which will be composited at greater speeds and heights for the explosion.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden coming up with several variations of falls which will be composited at greater speeds and heights for the explosion.
Stuntman Gerrin Ard practicing his falls which will be composited at greater speeds and heights for the explosion.
Actor Manny Ruvalcaba in the FX makeup chair.
Makeup FX Artist Danny Hernandez applying prosthetics to Actor Manny Ruvalcaba.
Actor Manny Ruvalcaba in the middle of the FX makeup process.
Actor Manny Ruvalcaba with his face completed.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra and Makeup FX Artist Danny Hernandez wrapping Actor Manny Ruvalcaba with his bandages.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying a disfigured ear to Actor Manny Ruvalcaba.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying a disfigured ear to Actor Manny Ruvalcaba.
FX Makeup Supervisor Frank Guerra applying a disfigured ear to Actor Manny Ruvalcaba.
Stuntman Gerrin Ard, Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden, Makeup FX Artist Danny Hernandez and James Arnett at the front door of Artfare's Area 51.
Makeup FX Artist Danny Hernandez Wife, Clarissa and son Danny jr.inside Artfare's Area 51.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden, Stuntman Gerrin Ard and Actor Manny Ruvalcaba on their way to the filming set.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden safety briefing Stuntmen Gerrin Ard and Armando Franco with Actor Manny Ruvalcaba for their stunts.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden and James Arnett go over the idiosyncrises of driving the production truck.
In this scene, the production truck is used for the explosion because we already have a CG model of it.
James Arnett disconnects the tail light bulbs so the truck appears to decelerate when it hits people (who aren't in the same shot) without the corpse behind the wheel appearing to step on the brake.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden waits for his cue to barrel the truck into the mutants.
James Arnett and Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden discuss velocity at each mark downrange.
James Arnett and Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden discuss velocity at each mark downrange.
James Arnett films Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden hurtling to the end of the parking lot.
Stuntman Sam Doane taking the place of Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden in the truck.
Stuntman Sam Doane, Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden, Stuntman Armando Franco and Actor Manny Ruvalcaba on set.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden, Stuntman Sam Doane, Actor Manny Ruvalcaba and Stuntman Armando Franco on set.
Camera viewfinder view of the scene.
James Arnett turns control over to Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden for calling the stunt plate shots.
Stuntman Sam Doane takes Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden's direction.
Stuntman Sam Doane takes Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden's direction.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden calling the shots.
Stuntman Gerrin Ard, Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden, Stuntman Sam Doane and Stuntman Armando Franco rearrange the crash mats.
Stuntman Gerrin Ard, Stuntman Armando Franco, Stuntman Sam Doane and Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden rearrange the crash mats.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden directing Stuntmen Sam Doane and Armando Franco.
Stuntman Armando Franco rehearsing his fall which will later be composited in front of the moving truck.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden directing Stuntman Sam Doane.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden directing Stuntman Sam Doane.
Stuntman Gerrin Ard rehearsing his fall which will later be composited in front of the exploding CG truck..
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden directing Stuntman Sam Doane for being thrown out of the truck.
Stuntman Gerrin Ard and Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden directing Stuntman Sam Doane for his beating stunt gag.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden and Stuntman Gerrin Ard rehearsing with Stuntman Sam Doane for his beating stunt gag.
James Arnett filming the dragged from the truck and beaten stunt gag.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden, Stuntman Gerrin Ard and Stuntman Sam Doane waiting for their cue.
James Arnett filming the dragged from the truck and beaten stunt gag.
The improvised explosive in the backseat of the truck.
Stunt Supervisor Robert Linden and Stuntman Sam Doane with Actor Santiago Craig.
Filming Actor Santiago Craig lifting the corpse (Stuntman Sam Doane) into the drivers seat.
Stuntman Sam Doane in the drivers seat between takes.
Filming Actor Santiago Craig igniting the bomb.
Filming Actor Santiago Craig igniting the bomb.
The Crew reviews the footage at the end of the stunt shoot.
The Crew reviews the footage at the end of the stunt shoot.
 

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