All-Female “Team XX” Makes History at the 2015 San Diego 48 Hour Film Project

 

First things first!

Have you ever heard of the 48 Hour Film Project?

San Diego 48 Hour Film Project

If  your answer is YES, kudos to you!

If not, the best way to describe it is a whirlwind weekend of tight deadlines, a love of the craft of filmmaking, an appetite for team building and bonding and a love for creativity. What more could film aficionados ask for? Oh, there’s also a screening on the “big screen” for each team soon after the weekend of filming!

In 2015, over 130 cities will compete in the Worldwide 48 Hour Film Project from  Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas!

How does it work? A team is formed and over one weekend, a short film (under 8 minutes, including a minute of credits) is written, filmed, edited and submitted within 48 hours! You might be saying “Are you kidding me”? NO, this is really how it works!

What’s the procedure? On Friday evening, in an orderly fashion, each team randomly picks a “genre”, (in San Diego there was a giant “plinko board” that teams took turns at), after which all teams are assigned the same line, character and prop that MUST be included in their film. For this 48 Hour Film Project. We’ll get to Team XX ‘ challenge soon!

Read more about the San Diego 48 Hour Film Project, which took place July 24-26, 2015. The event is Produced by Duane Trammell and Robyn Sarvis, and the website includes information about the Project, the film “Premiere” Screenings August 10-13, the “Best Of” Screenings and the wrap party August 22nd.

Producer/Director Sue Vicory, of Heartland Films (www.suevicory.comSue Vicory, IMDB Link) formed, Executive Produced and Directed the first “all-female” 27 member “Team, XX” film titled “Down Stage” for the 2015 San Diego 48 Hour Film Project.

Executive Producer/Director of Team XX film “Down Stage”- Sue Vicory

“Down Stage”, a Holiday Film, will screen with 12 other film entries in Group A at 6:30 p.m.,  plus about 13 films in Group B at 9:00 p.m. at Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15 on 701 5th Ave. in the Downtown Gaslamp District of San Diego (92101) on Monday, August 10, 2015. Tickets are $15 for the “Premiere” Screenings and $20 for the “Best Of” screenings. Tickets

Like Team XX on Facebook, Follow Team XX on Twitter (@teamxxsd) and Instagram (@teamxxsd)

 

Team XX Poster for “Down Stage” Design by Holly Rone

 

Team XX
Team XX at the Horton Grand Theatre. Photo by Nannette DeRobertis

 

Vicory had several “bonding” meetings  with most of the 27 members of the cast and crew (mostly from Southern California) a few weeks before the actual filming weekend. One such meeting had the 10 actresses, performing in a “mock talent show” audition which featured a variety of techniques, such as monologues, singing, dancing and improv.

With  Vicory and a few Team XX’ers present, Team XX Assistant Director Jen Allen drew the genre “Holiday Film” for Team XX  at the “kickoff” event at Liberty Station on Friday evening, August 24. The designated line for all teams was “Sometimes that’s (or that is) all you need”, the prop to be used was a “flashlight” and the character was to be either “Alan or Alice Downing, a Coach”.

Team XX writers included Sariann Monaco, Talia Pauletti and Holly Rone. The multigenerational writing team  cranked out the “Down Stage”  script about Mother’s Day within a few hours from Friday evening into Saturday early morning at Vicory’s seaside condo.

Down Stage WRiting Team Left to right: Talia, Holly Rone, Sariann MOnaco
Down Stage Writing Team Left to right: Talia Pauletti,, Holly Rone, Sariann Monaco Photo by SJF Communications

The script was sent digitally to the cast.

Actresses included:  Jess Antrobus, Isabel Canzoneri, Jody Catlin, Nancy DeMarsEmmy FareseSusan FareseCat Forrest, Lori  JonesSariann Monaco, and Holly Rone. Feel free to click on each name and photo.

 

The crew included: Sue Vicory: Executive Producer/Director; Lori Jones: Producer, Jen McCleary: Assistant Director; Maidy Morhous: Production Assistant. Amanda Niles: Sound; Angela Wong: Director of Photography; Kymberrly Scott: 2nd A.D.;   Krystin Cline: 2nd Camera; Tamara Ilich: Gaffer;  Cara Myers: Editor; Natalie Lauer: Production Assistant; Danni Michele: Animation;  Nannette DeRobertis: Photographer; Sariann Monaco: Writer; Talia Pauletti: Writer;  Holly Rone: Writer; Corrinne Smith: Communications; Pamela Weigelt:  Massuese;  Miranda Muse:  Massuese;  Lisa Wintersdorff: Makeup; Crystle Orantez: Hair; Susan Farese: Public Relations.  Special Thanks to SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and Derek Johnston at the Horton Grand Theatre.

Team XX filmed Down Stage at the Horton Grand Theatre throughout Saturday, August 25th. In the meantime, editor Cara  Myers began the editing process from her hotel suite at the Horton Grand Hotel as soon as Saturday’s footage became available and into Sunday with only one “pickup” of a voiceover on Sunday morning.  Serendipitously, the “7 minute 29 second” completed film, “Down Stage” was turned in to the 48 Hour Film Project at 7:29 p.m.

Some members of Team XX at tour of the Horton Grand Hotel
Some members of Team XX at tour of the Horton Grand Hotel

 

"That's a Wrap"- Team XX after filming at the Horton Grand Theatre (with Derek Johnston)
“That’s a Wrap”- Team XX after filming at the Horton Grand Theatre (with Derek Johnston)

 

 

I asked Sue Vicory about her experience with Team XX and the 48 Hour Film Project.  Vicory  stated  “The passion within this group was palpable. We each brought our A Game to the production. Collaboration is a natural strength for women and it shows up clearly on the screen of our first film, “Down Stage”.

Down Stage will have a Premiere Screening with over 20 other films on Monday, August 10th at starting at 6:30 at the Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15, 701 5th Ave. San Diego, 92121. Here is the Ticket Link. Note: You must purchase tickets online, there will be no ticket purchases at the theatre.

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A Proposal Atop a Cliff at Torrey Pines State Reserve and Beach!

 

You never know what you’ll find or stumble upon at Torrey Pines State Beach!

Today was no exception.

What a joy it was to spot some cool “raked” writing in the sand and discover it was a marriage proposal…in POLISH!

(What a joy it always is to have my camera in hand as well)!

It took a small village to plan and make today happen.

I asked the two guys on the beach (Gino and Dan) who had just finished “raking” the proposal for their friend/co-workers Nathan and his soon to be fiance, Catherine (who is Polish).

It said (in Polish), “Catherine, will you marry me?” in the sand.

Here’s a quick video!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/vrLdWVyAO8M” target=”_blank”>

And a photo of the Proposal!

Nathan's Proposal for Catherine in Polish  in the sand
Nathan’s Proposal for Catherine in Polish in the sand

 

Plus an extra added bonus, they made a giant heart  in the sand as well. I couldn’t resist taking this photo of the heart!

Heart in  the  Sand
Heart in the Sand

 

 I was so captivated by the soon-to-be joyous (hopefully) occasion, that I offered to help keep beach strollers away from the masterpiece and photograph the “event” from below.

I told passersby why we were “diverting” them. It was really cool. The excitement was building. Everyone was smiling Where was the couple??

They were  going to be atop a cliff up above from where the proposal was etched!

The Proposal Cliff!
The Proposal Cliff!

The guys said that their friend, Nathan who was proposing to Catherine, had planned the exact spot up top and on the beach below.

Another friend, Scott, was waiting up above, concealed by the bushes. He was going to snap photos of the magic moment. Hopefully we’ll get a few later from Scott and I can add them to this post!

I took a few more pics of the cliff above.

We waited for about 15-20 minutes.

And then…We spotted Nathan and Catherine! Like little “ants”!

Another view of the Cliff
Another view of the Cliff with Nathan and Catherine  atop the cliff!

 

I zoomed it from the beach!  Here’s Nathan Proposing to Catherine! Soon we were all cheering and clapping!

Nathan Proposing to Catherine!
Nathan Proposing to Catherine!

 

 One more photo of Nathan and Catherine from the beach!

Nathan Proposing to Catherine! ! Photo by SJF Communications
Nathan Proposing to Catherine!

 

 

 And here are Dan and Gino, celebrating the success of the proposal writing mission!

Dan and Gino: Beach Mission Accomplished!
Dan and Gino: Beach Mission Accomplished! Photo by SJF Communications

 UPDATE! 4/28/15 7:36 p.m.

I just heard from Scott Mahoney, who took some great photos of the couple from above at the cliff!

Here they are! (Click on each photo to make it larger)!

Incidentally, you can find more of Scott’s Photos on his Instagram Account  (@srmphotography)

 

Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography
Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography

 

 

Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography
Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography

 

 

Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography
Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography

 

Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography
Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography

 

Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography
Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography

 

Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography
Photo by Scott Mahoney, SRM Photography

 

  Congrats to Nathan and Catherine for many happy years ahead together!

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