Big Saturday

 

(Photo courtesy Brian Diggs)

Very exciting day yesterday.

Yesterday, Brian, Robert and I saw a near-finished version of the edited film. It looks really wonderful. Robert did such a terrific job selecting and cutting scenes together while maintaining a creative eye. I think you guys will be very happy.

There’s still a lot to do, but we’re making great progress. I’m working with a graphic designer to come up with a DVD cover and we’re going to be contacting a musician for our own original music for the song.

Big stuff coming. Keep an eye out!

 Andrea

Backstory: Arrah Lehman

The first thing you notice about Arrah is her eyes.

You can’t really tell in this picture, but they are really quite spectacular, a light sea-green that compliments her beautiful curls and contagious smile.

Of course, Autumn straightened her curls in this picture.

ANYWAY.

I first met Arrah when she and Autumn pulled up in front of Dave Harmon’s house on February 29. She and Autumn stepped out of their car and I thought, “Wow! Who are these cool gals?”

Then I thought, “What did this chick say her name was? I suck at names. I’ll never remember this.”

Then Arrah came closer and I was awestuck by her beautiful eyes.

But enough of that. This is getting weird.

Arrah jumped into action as soon as she arrived. She was our primary hair stylist and her curling iron is now legendary for its potent power.

Let me tell you something: I have known many of these actresses for years and I have NEVER seen them look better than when they came off the Arrah/Autumn assembly line. They literally glowed. It was amazing to see.

Arrah is the kind of woman that just sparkles. She is smart, funny, talented and just a pleasure to be around. I am so happy she was a part of Destroy Roy.

Backstory: Autumn Fry

Dearest Autumn:

I have a terrible confession to make. I can’t remember your name.

Please don’t be offended. It’s not you. It’s me. I am, as we say in the movie business, a moron.

Some days I call you Amber. Sometimes it’s Arrah. Sometimes it’s, “Crap, what the hell is her name??”

This is so wrong.

When I wrote my ad on Craigslist, I heard from some pretty freaky people. Some were amazing artists. Others were, well… kinda scary. Frankly, I was a little worried for my life.

Then came you. Oh what a magical day! You actually called me. And emailed regularly. And kept me up to date on your thoughts and ideas for the look of the cast. It was a miracle.

I wasn’t sure that you’d really want to come up from San Antonio just to work for free and be abused by a bunch of cranky newspaper reporters. But then you showed up that first day with these massive suitcases full of makeup and AN ASSISTANT.

My first thought was, “Damn, she is way too cool for me.”

My second thought was, “Hey, she works at Kraft, right? I wonder if I can get some discount mac and cheese…”

You made everyone look beautiful. I mean, seriously. By the time you were done, they could have been models.

(It made me feel really ugly. You’re a MEAN PERSON, ALLISON… or amber…whatever)

Your presence added a lot to our credibility. Thank you for being fabulous.

Andrea

Destroy Andrea

Two weeks after shooting ended, I am realizing how much more work needs to be done. Thank God I don’t have to do it alone.

Brian and I visited Robert Cudmore’s house the other night and saw some of the initial footage. Now I know I’m biased but holy hell. There’s some funny stuff in there.

Everyone is so great. Special shout out to Todd and Scott: Todd, for falling down (albeit accidentally) on the sidewalk outside Susan’s house during the Nutz Roy Al party; and to Scott, for actually catching it all on film.

Seriously, I almost wet myself. I made Robert play it about three times.

Yesterday, I started putting together the list of credits. EXTRAS! I think I have all your names, but we need to be sure. Please comment here or email me if you were present during any of the shooting on March 8 and 9 — I want to make sure I credit you.

Going through the credits was a strange Barbra Streisand “Memories” experience. Very montage-like.

Backstory: Robert Cudmore, director of photography

There he is, our cinematographer in shining armor.

Robert came to us via Craigslist. He answered my ad, kindly corrected my obscene confusion over what a DP does and then graciously agreed to help with editing.

After a meeting of all the potential crew members, Brian and I agreed we had been completely outclassed and that Robert had to be our director of photography.

From Day 1, Robert treated this like it was the most important project on his plate. He has a real job (although we can’t figure out exactly what it is), a real family (assuming they haven’t been rented for our benefit) and lots of other commitments. But Robert spent hours detailing every shot as if Scorcese would be seeing it.

Robert is a tech nerd. He calls props “artifacts” and spray guns “atomizers.” But he also has an artistic side and enjoys writing and directing his own screenplays.

I don’t know how we got so lucky on this one, but we really did.

Happy Easter, Royans and Royettes…

Is anyone else ready to kill their chocolate-powered, hyperactive 5 year old? Oh, just me? OK then.

Yesterday I started checking out venues for our “official” screening. I may have leads on some cool, affordable places.

I’m hoping to give out most of the cast and crew DVDs at the cast party, then mail the rest to whomever can’t come. My plan is to provide one free copy to everyone involved in the production. Then, if people would like a bunch more, they can purchase them for $5 each.

DVDs will be sold at the “official”screening for $10 each (to the friends and family I hope you bring to the event!). We will also eventually sell them on the website for $12 each (to cover shipping).

Once they’re on the website, I’ll commence with heavy-duty marketing. This, of course, is where you come in. I’ve never tried to sell anything before and I’ll desperately need not only your advice, but your ability to guilt your grandma into buying a copy of Destroy Roy.

We don’t expect to make a ton of money. But the idea is to make enough to recoup our costs and make another movie. That would be fun, right?

And now, in honor of Easter, I present to you some more candids of the cast and crew. I believe these are all Scott Lawrence photos, but if I’m wrong, someone please let me know and I’ll happily correct that statement.

Happy Easter!

Backstory: Robyn Vose

Look at this pretty face:

So lovely. Maybe a high school cheerleader? A pageant queen? A skin product model?

Who knows? Dear Robyn is a mystery.

Robyn came to us via Craigslist. She had a beautiful headshot, which, coincidentally, was taken by my photographer neighbor. Robyn’s first claim to fame is that she actually looks like her headshot.

Some people look much better in person than they do in their picture. And, unfortunately, the opposite is true, too. I inteviewed some people who must have gotten their headshots taken before they became street people.

Not. Pretty.

Something about Robyn stood out to me. It wasn’t just her acting skills. She excuded warmth. She had a great laugh.  She seemed like a calm, supportive person that I could count on. And she absolutely was.

But the more I get to know Robyn, the more I suspect that she has a dark, secret life.

Oh sure, she looks all sweet and clean cut. Definitely seems like the kind of gal who had a debutante ball.

But honestly? I think she’s killed people. Perhaps many people. Maybe she eats the bodies, too.

I can’t say for sure, but I suspect something evil lives inside Robyn.

I like it.

Manifesto found!

Thanks to the lovely and talented Spruce Dickerson, who searched her belongings and found the manifesto in her car.

I was so worried. Mani is more than a piece of paper to me. It is a piece of my rotting, corrupted soul.

I plan to frame it.

MISSING MANIFESTO!!!

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!

RED ALERT!

My precious manifesto is missing. My heart breaks for its ophaned, abandonned soul. Who will feed it? And bathe it? And LOVE IT??

The Manifesto — known to its closest friends as Mani — was last seen in the “newsroom” (CSB) on March 8. I am pretty sure I put it in a beige file card box.

Well, need to do a pick up shot with MANI this weekend, but he is missing.

I take full responsibility. I am a bad mother. Call CPS. But first, do me a favor: Look around your belongings, see if you accidentally grabbed Mani and his friends, then call/email me immediately.

Don’t know what Mani looks like? Go here:

http://destroyroy.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/every-newsroom-needs-a-manifesto/

SAVE MANI!

Ideas?

So, I need your ideas about the cast party!

Where should we have it? What should we eat? What should we wear?

I’m guessing we’ll be done editing in about a month (that’s just a wild guess, but who knows, really…). That means we could have the party in early May.

 By then — in addition to laughing, eating and visiting — we can all watch the trailer, documentary and movie together.

Susan H. Sager has generously offered to host a party for us at some point. Now what should we do about food? Maybe we could have a pot luck of people’s favorite baked goods or casseroles or whatever? Todd makes amazing cookies and brownies. And I feel like Robyn makes a mean enchilada.

I have no idea why I think that. I just get these feelings and go with them, you know?

Yeah. Anyway.

What should we wear to such an affair? Jeans? Promwear? Halloween costumes? I want to be Big Bird.

Scott, can I borrow your Big Bird costume? I know you must have one.

Brian says he’ll come in his Sexy Nurse costume. He’s been looking for someplace to wear it.

Slut.

Anyway, give me your thoughts, people. I stink at party planning.

P.S. Todd says he’ll wear his cape.