THAT’S A WRAP!!!
Dead Gentlemen Productions wrapped the filming of The Gamers: Dorkness Rising on June 4. It was an amazing experience for everyone involved and it means we’re one step closer to the final product. See what the cast and crew had to say about what it was like to be on set and boy do they have stories to tell! Keep checking back for regular updates, because now we finally have time.
Jen Page, Luster (Female)
We were filming in Tacoma during night shoot, so I didn’t have to be on set until 8pm that night. Which was cool because most set calls are at 8am, meaning I need to get up at 4am to 6am, depending on the location. I can sleep in a bit if I elect to curl my hair by the reflective glow of the horse trailer that is housing some of our equipment though, so that’s a bonus.
Around 12am that night, I’m told to mosey over to the make up tent and have my make up done for the [spoiler deleted]. So there we are at the make up station. I’ve got my [spoiler deleted] and people are starting to avoid looking at me. I’m assuming it was the evil [spoiler deleted]. Sean starts doing my make up and for some reason or another we start telling ghost stories. It occurs to me that here we are, after midnight, in a cemetery, on Friday the 13th. All we needed to make the evening complete was a [spoiler deleted], some zombies and a pentagram. But fortunately, that was tomorrow’s shoot.
After getting [spoiler deleted] on my face, I head back in the rain to the set. I’m asked if I can jump off a board 5 ft to the ground in the woods. Nope, not in these heels! But they do have me [spoiler deleted] and they get a nice shot of my [spoiler deleted] as the other horrified characters stare up at me.
It rained pretty decently that night. And any day after that, when I had a close up shot to do, it rained as well. I think maybe Friday the 13th cursed me. But I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I got to shove bystanders, explode peasants, torture a demon or two, [spoiler deleted] and really piss off the party’s paladin. What more can you ask for in a campaign or a movie role?
Scott C. Brown, Leo/Flynn/Turk
Best Part
Getting to run off for trists with the Priestess, Luster [F] and the Barmaid.Worst Part
It was only acting.Funniest Moment
When Priestess and Barmaid slapped me in the King’s Throne RoomQuirky things I learned
Hard to be romantic with a mandolin in your hands! Hard to fall down with a rapier at your side.OK, but seriously:
Best Part
The friends and relationships that were made on this film.Worst Part
Wrapping the filming.Funniest Moment
Any time Christian, Brian and I were together reeking havoc on set.Quirky things I learned
Hard to be romantic with a mandolin in your hands! Hard to fall down with a rapier at your side. Dying is not as easy as it looks. They use lights during the day to light a scene.This was a great, wonderful, emotional experience, and one that I will never forget. I believe I have grown as both an actor and as a person during the long process that was audition, casting, re-casting, postponing, real-world shooting, break and fantasy-world shooting. I enjoyed the fantasy part much better. I enjoyed my day as Turk and wearing the armor. No matter what Nathan says, I didn’t mind being in it, and I think I could have done it for the whole shoot, but I guess we will never know! Having my Harley in the movie will also be a great thrill for me. I feel that I have a very large extended family now, with both cast and crew. There really weren’t any deliniations of ‘us’ or ‘them’, which I think is pretty damn cool. The wrapping of this project was harder for me than any theatre production I have been a part of. I hope we can do reunions every year, or something just to get folks together, find out what they are up to and support them where we may.
Kelly Barnes, First and Second Assistant Camera
We were filming a scene in the Game Matrix with Scott, Christian and Brian. Christian was supposed to be talking to Nathan on the phone while Scott and Brian were in the background playing some weird game while they were drunk. Anyway, during one of the takes, Christian adlibbed a part of the scene and Matt Vancil, our professional director, thought Christian’s adlib was so funny, he laughed and let an echoing fart slip out. That was the funniest moment that I can recall.
Derek Eastham, Script Supervisor and Second Assistant Director
Best
For me the best part of the entire production was all of the wonderful & amazing people we worked with. From the Producers & Director to the Cast & even the PA who might have shown up for only a single day… the people involved in this film were amazing people with a dedication to the art & realizing Matt’s vision that I one day hope to see in my own crews.Worst
For me the worst part of the production… hmm… for me the worst part was being away from the person I love… it was especially difficult during the shoots at Ft. Flagler… but the last weekend of the shoot was probably the worst weekend of my life despite our wonderful production… So, the time away from him was the hardest part… but overall, I can’t think of anything actually production related that was a drawback for me.Funniest
The funniest moment for me… let’s see, I had a few. Obviously there’s Christian getting junked by the [spoiler deleted]… but for me I think really the funniest moment was in the real world shoot on the day the cast was continually breaking into songs & the like.. it was great ‘grr… argh’Quirky moment for me was the time we ate dinner in the middle of the road in Edmonds… that was great… Me & Matt & Dirk eating at the ‘Director’s’ table… watching the people go by… and wearing only light clothing considering it was January!
Things I learned
Well… I’ve learned a tremendous amount from everyone on this shoot… but more specifically I spent most of my learning time focusing on learning more about my passion as a Director… and, unapologetically I will be ripping Matt off in the future on my own films… because he’s a complete genious as a director…Favorite Quote
Matt Vancil - ‘Less Suck, More Good!’ reminded me of Lucas’s quote - ‘Faster & More intense’
Corrie Moore, Resident Acting Coach and Extra
The most fun, for me, of course, was something Matt Vancil did. He watched a rehearsal of my 13-year-old son Tallis’ first scene with Jen (in which [spoiler deleted] reaches up high out of the pentagram, caresses Luster’s cheek, and says ‘My lady, you tempt me. [spoiler deleted].’
Matt watched it, then he emerged from under the monitor’s cloth with a very red face and said, ‘Okay, this is the first time I have ever been ashamed of something I’ve written.’
It did have that ‘je ne sais quoi’ EWWWW factor . . . chortle!
Profound, heartfelt thanks to all of you for this amazing opportunity for our family. Every 13-year-old kid wants to be able to play a [spoiler deleted] for two days, but Tallis was lucky enough to get to do it with his heroes. I think he’s the happiest kid in America.