Day 436

(Technically: 583)

Shot some pick-ups today. Now, we are finally done shooting!

We met at Times Square, where it was really cold and gray, but thing warmed up as we went through the day, getting to about 65 degrees and sunny by the time we got down to Washington Square Park.

Alex our main zombie was great to work with, as usual, bring his very physical acting style to the role as he stalked tourists in the park.

We also met up with Danielle to do a few quick shots out in Brooklyn. The scenery around our first location has been cleaned up considerably, with a lot of the graffiti now gone, alas.

But it was a great shoot, with just me and Richard working the production end and after a quick session with Kristy yesterday, I was able to handle all the make-up by myself.

(Unfortunately, this is the only photo we have of Danielle today).

Once again, I want to thank everyone who helped out with the principal photography and the pick-ups. Now my goal is to finish a final edit by the end of the month.

Day 83

The Fourth Day of Filming.

Today was a good day. After the long, audacious shoot last night, it was good to have a shorter day, actually during the day. We shot in Sam's apartment, where we filmed pretty much all the heavy-duty stunts today, coordinated by the legendary Drew Leary with me as a zombie.

Early start tomorrow, since it's our biggest day. Till then!

Day 81

The Second Day of Filming.

The day began fairly well, despite being upstaged by Obama at Cooper Union Square just a few blocks away, awash in cops cars, sirens and news vans. It made navigating traffic a bit trickier than it should have been, but not too bad.

We shot in Washington Square Park today, where we shot the first two scenes of the movie as part of the Manhattan Storyline. We had a bit of a rain delay for about a half hour, but it cleared up and everything went pretty quick.

Despite the rain, and a loud obnoxious disruptive woman named Star Luna, we wrapped early and got all the shots I wanted! Overall, today was a pretty damn good day!

After downloading the footage at Tisch, I grabbed a quick bite to eat at Delion and then headed over to Montrose Ave in Brooklyn, where I met with my actors from the Hipster Storyline to go over some blocking at Sam's apartment. Everything went really well and I'm riding an endorphin rush at the moment.

Tomorrow is our big, most intense day of the whole shoot: the Zombie Walk, where we're hoping to get some people to be zombie extras starting at 7pm near the East River State Park on North 8th Street and Kent Ave.

Sorry, but I don't have any pictures to put up today, but rest assured, there will be plenty tomorrow documenting the whole Zombie Walk in its full glory!

Day 80

The First Day of Filming.

We just finished our first day of shooting! "NYZ" is now officially in-production!

Check out the first official picture, featuring Jim and Morgan at Stuyvesant Square:


After a lot of running around this morning, going to Budget Truck Rentals, Hand Held Films, Inc., and then to Tisch to pick up the rig.

Special thanks to Rockwell's for providing today's burgers and wings! And thanks to Alexis for picking it up! And Catrin, our first zombie:

Tomorrow we shoot in Washington Square Park! Day Two!

In other related Zombie News...

A great video on how to deal with the guy who's clearly hiding a zombie bite.

Day 79

(Technically: 224)

Whew! Lots of running around today. Don't believe me? Take a look:

Woke up to a phone call, saying that my allotment check was ready. Went to Tisch, picked it. Then went to Lighting Plus down the street for light bulbs before heading to K-Mart to buy expendables. Went home. Then went back to Tisch, where I met with Richard again and had a brief meeting to Yemane.

Then I went to K-Mart again to buy a folding table and chair for Kristy's make-up station on set. After that, went to Trader Joe's right downstairs from my dorm to buy snacks for craft services before heading uptown to B&H to buy gels and other expendables for Richard. And then, finally, went down to MacDougal to pick up the camera from Matt.

Long day, but I'm really excited! Tomorrow's the big day!

Day 74

(Technically: 219)

Lots of running around. Had to really start wearing the producer's hat in the past few days, since a few people have had to back out of the project, unfortunately.

Ran out again to the apartment in Brooklyn, and finally got the owner to sign the contract!

Hadn't been home for two seconds before receiving an email from Christina and Geoff of the Council of the Wise (aka the Production Supervision Committee -- sounds kinda like a subcommittee of the Census Bureau or something). They wanted to meet at noon. It was already 11:58. Crap.

So, ran to Tisch.

As one does.

Went through the production book with Christina and Geoff, who were very supportive. I got an email shortly thereafter informing me that we had been approved! YAY!!!

Met with Yemane, who gave me a list of names to try to help bolster my thin crew list, now that we won't have a producer on set.

Then I sat in a corner and shouted at my computer screen as I tried to navigate the labyrinthine website of the NYU Insurance & Risk Management Department. Finally, I got an email confirming that I could go and file with the Mayor's Office, which I will do tomorrow.

Ran into Eric. Then Richard, our new DP.

After treating myself to some R & R at Sundaes and Cones on East 10th Street, met with Kristy to discuss make-up. Things are going well. I hope we can do some more test shoots before we plunge right into it, but I'm happy with what we have so far and I think it will work out very well regardless.

So, having missed most of class by this point, Richard called me and we went out to Williamsburg to scout out the location for the zombie walk next Friday. Scoped it out for shots and angles and discussed lighting set-ups.

We went back to Palladium, where we worked on a new equipment list, which we'll hopefully have quotes for by tomorrow.

Didn't get around to calling Budget Rental today. Will do tomorrow. After running to the Mayor's Office. And calling Hand Held for quotes. So much to do!

Phew! Lot done today. Lot's of running around, but I'm feeling good! Maybe it's the endorphins trying to negate the pain of actual physical exertion, but nevertheless, I feel good right now. A little under the gun, but that's where I shine.

Tomorrow I start rehearsals with Jim and Morgan, which should be a lot of fun because we'll hopefully get to really play around with the characters and make it funny (no promises, though!).

Happy Tax Day (an oxymoron, I admit). At least the dead don't have to pay taxes.

...Or do they? (SPOILER ALERT: No, they don't)

Check out our seventh installment of our 28-part series: 28 Days Countdown: NYZ! Featuring a Makeup Test and another "Public Domain Zombie Moment!"