I don't think I have mentioned it in the past, but I have been lucky enough to be allowed to "work" (very loose term here) with a local film company for the last year or so. Check out their web site at http://www.littlethunderfilms.com/.  I see that I am even shown as part of the crew!  What a hoot!  I have really been enjoying myself even though I am not at all sure what my role is.

I seem to be something like a "camp follower," not in the sense of selling goods or services, but in the sense of hanging around and attempting to provide whatever support I can.  I hold things, pick up and move things, sometimes I provide a very brief "body" as an extra - not footage, more like inches.  I hold microphones sometimes, or reflectors, or carry gear from place to place.  What I do is whatever is needed and within my abilities.  It is really, exceptionally, fun.

At first I showed up out of curiosity, pure and simple.  However, as time went on I found that I was liking the people, and perhaps even more importantly their point of view of the world.  In free moments they sit around and talk "movies" - nothing that I have ever done, and frankly nothing that I know much about.  I am not a movie "fan" - I like to go to the movies, but seldom do.  However, I find that when I do now I see lots of things that I missed.  Lighting, techniques, presentation, mood - all sorts of things that make watching movies so much more interesting.

Last week we were in the sound studio finishing up a few loose ends with "Rain."  What a joyous day it was for me! The day stated with panic because the equipment in the sound studio wouldn't work. Oh no! - this was our tightly scheduled day and no equipment!!??  Yikes.  We (they - I didn't have anything to do with it) finally got it all working.  Then there was obvious tension about how long it was going to take - and could we finish it within our allotted time.  The LittleThunder crew is good, works fast, and is efficient - but they won't "speed things up" to meet a deadline.  They do what they need to, and do it well, but they stubbornly refuse to be rushed - I love them for that.

When we finally got under way it was magic!  Much of the day was involved with re-recording audio for clips that had sound problems (car noises, children in the background, poor sound quality for various reasons).  That meant that the actors (stars!) had to redo their lines in perfect synchronization with the action.  They were AMAZING!  More than perfect - they not only synchronized perfectly, but they brought the level of the energy in the scenes from "excellent" to "it blew me away."  

I am so anxious to see the final cut!  I have been truly blessed to have been able to participate in this project.  Along the way, there have been other projects that have been really exciting to participate in.  For example, right now we ("they," but I am feeling like it is "we") are finishing up a little video about the local Senior Center.  It is an interesting project because it isn't clean to me what the "point of view" is going to be. The obvious choices are that it could be a "documentary" or maybe a "promotional piece."  Both of these outcomes might be involved, but I feel that it is something different - it is more of a honoring of the place, the helpers and the "customers."  It is a friendly view of the daily happenings at the center (which are constant).  I am finding it just plain fun to watch folks come to the center for fun, friendship, exercise, nutrition - to enjoy and share their lives with each other and "outsiders" such as myself.  I think the movie is capturing that feeling of community, and it is a very good thing.

I went looking for Little Thunder's "motto" and couldn't find it on line - however, I think it could be summarized as "films that make a difference."  It is such a refreshing, and exciting, thing to be involved with.  There are a lot of ways to make a difference - I spend a lot of my time trying to do that through engineering, a lot of people do it with spending a lot of time with social outreach, Little Thunder is doing it through communication.  It is a beautiful, joyous and important thing to do.